Baghdad  - An Iraqi defence ministry spokesman said Saturday Iraq was seeking to purchase weapons from the US as well as other countries in response to an announcement by the Pentagon of 10.7 billion dollars arms deals to Iraq.

Ministry spokesman, Mohammed al-Askari, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that Baghdad was cooperating with Washington to supply the Iraqi army with military equipment and weapons with the aim of developing a strong Iraqi military force.

He declined to comment on the proposed arms purchases valued at 10.7 billion dollars but said Baghdad was seeking to buy armoured vehicles, helicopters and automatic weapons.

"Iraq is looking for arms purchases from several countries, not just the US," al-Askari said.

The Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign arms sales, told Congress in a notice that was posted on its website on Friday that the Pentagon approved the arms deals to Iraq. (dpa)