Investigators will have the power to open mail and tap telephones in pursuit of evidence against weapons suppliers.

"Competition for available arms sales continues to intensify among major weapons suppliers," the report said.

In the long run, analysts and executives say, military contractors and weapons suppliers will gain.

"Nonetheless, the developing world continues to be the primary focus of foreign arms sales activity by conventional weapons suppliers."

He learned also that his contacts with weapons suppliers was most likely what had kept him alive.

As the weapons supplier, it has exercised an enormous influence on the Afghan rebels and their tactics.

The modernization efforts are also positioning China as a weapons supplier for other countries.

Russia is the major weapons supplier to the Sudan.

The Soviet Union, its key patron and weapons supplier, is gone.

It is Belgian weapons suppliers that protect the King against the insurgents.