The Foreign Office is examining a ruling from United Nations lawyers, which suggests it was not illegal to sell arms to the Nigerian-led peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone.

The BBC's Caroline Quinn: "The ruling runs counter to what ministers say"

The ruling seems to contradict claims made by the UK Government during the recent controversy over the arms-to-Africa affair.

The government had maintained that any sale of weapons to Sierra Leone by a firm of military consultants, Sandline International, would breach a UN embargo.

It comes as Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who maintains that Sandline could have broken the law, is urging fellow European Union ministers to back a code of conduct for arms sales.

The military consultants provided a Nigerian-led force with arms and equipment to return democratically-elected President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to power in Sierra Leone.

Sandline's Tim Spicer: "Foreign Office knew"

Sandline has said previously that it acted with the knowledge Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence officials.

Following the UN ruling, it added: "Sandline International welcomes the report of the legal opinion of the United Nations, which is consistent with the position that Sandline has always maintained. It is not Sandline's place to comment further."

The affair is now subject to an independent inquiry conducted by former civil servant Sir Thomas Legg.

Mr Cook says he will resign if found to be at fault.

Too early to comment

Cook: Launched inquiry into own department

A Foreign Office spokesman said it had only learned of the ruling late on Friday and it was therefore too early to comment.

But he confirmed legal advisers and ministers would be examining the ruling.

But Mr Cook's critics may see the ruling as another blow to the Foreign Office after Customs and Excise officials said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Sandline for alleged breaches to the arms embargo.
 

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