Bulgaria bans arms sales to Lebanon

Bulgaria's government decided on Thursday to ban arms and ammunition sales to Lebanon after similar measures were taken by the UN Security Council and the European Union, which the Balkan country will join in January. Bulgaria exported to the Arab country arms worth about €120 million (US$152 million) in 2005, according to figures released by the Economy Ministry. In October, Bulgaria sent a frigate with 160 crew to join the international peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, has sent troops to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia.