Britain has exported more than 992 million pounds (about US$1.8 billion) worth of arms last year, with Saudi Arabia topping at the buying list in which other traditional British strategic allies also feature prominently, the British Guardian newspaper reported on Tuesday.  

The paper quoted a latest annual government report on weapons exports as revealing that the list also includes Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

The report also disclosed that last year, the British government approved a huge increase, amounting to at least 750 million pounds, in arms export licenses to Brunei, the former British protectorate rich in oil and natural gas.

British arms sales to Malaysia also increased significantly in 2003, the report said.

The report showed that licenses for arm exports to Pakistan doubled to 29.5 million pounds, while licenses for arms sales worth 86.5 million pounds were granted to India.

According to the report, licenses were also approved for the sale to Israel of a wide range of equipment, including components for "aiming devices", missiles, tanks, and "military aircraft head-up displays.

The report came as the government was condemned for allowing arms exports worth millions to some of the world's most unstable regions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2004)