France has agreed to sell Iraq 20 Exocet missiles similar to those used effectively by Argentina against the British Navy during the Falkland Islands war, and six Super Standard combat planes to deliver them, according to the usually well informed French weekly Le Canard Enchaine.
Diplomatic sources confirmed the report saying it fitted in with France’s overall pro-Iraqi and pro-Egyptian policy. The Iraqi-Iranian war will be one of the subjects which Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will discuss with President Francois Mitterrand when they meet here tomorrow.
Mubarak, Egyptian diplomatic sources said, hopes Western Europe will “make itself clearly heard” in Washington and urge President Reagan to act rapidly to try and secure a settlement in the Middle East. The sources said Mubarak feels encouraged by his meeting with Reagan but believes that European pressure would help speed up American diplomatic action.
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