WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Egypt has been deemed a leading consumer of military platforms and weapons.

The Congressional Research Service said Egypt has become the third largest buyer of weapons over the last four years. CRS, a division of the Library of Congress, said in its latest report that Egypt purchased $6.5 billion worth of weapons from 2000 to 2004.

In a report entitled "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations," CRS said Egypt signed agreements to obtain military helicopters and other platforms and weapons from the United States. The report said the United States was the largest military supplier to Egypt.

China and India were deemed the biggest arms buyers from 2000-2004. CRS said the United States was the leading arms supplier in the world, with its biggest market in the Middle East.