Russia Denies Giving Syria Choppers

Russia responded Friday to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's charges that Moscow was sending new attack helicopters to Syria, denying that any arms deal goes beyond "defensive" technology. "There are no new deliveries of Russian military helicopters to Syria," the Foreign Ministry said on its website. Clinton said Washington had information that choppers were on their way to Damascus, but the ministry said there were only "previously planned repairs of military equipment delivered to Syria many years ago." NBC News reported that U.S. military officials said Friday that ships carrying Russian troops were on their way to Syria to guard the country's interests there.