A Russian newspaper says Russia has begun delivering fighter jets to Syria as part of $1 billion contract, but the Russian arms trading monopoly has denied the report.

MIG-29M fighter of the Russian Aircraft Corporation overflies the area of the International Aerospace Exhibition Show in Berlin-Schoenefeld, 13 May 2006

The business daily Kommersant Tuesday said the delivery of five Russian MiG-31E interceptor jets to Syria has started, and that Russia also plans to supply an unspecified number of MiG-29M fighters.

However, the head of the Russian state arms trading monopoly Rosoboronexport Sergei Chemezov told reporters at the Le Bourget air show near Paris that Russia has no plans to deliver fighter jets to Syria or Iran.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin reacted to the press report by saying that all Russian arms deals comply with international law and obligations governed by treaties and United Nations resolutions.

The MiG-31E interceptor is one of the world's most advanced fighter jets. In the past, the United States and Israel have criticized Russia's sales of sophisticated weaponry to Syria, Israel's enemy.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.