WASHINGTON, AUG 17: The United States has increased its share of world arms sales, according to a study.

The US secured orders for 11.3 billion dollars worth of arms -- an increase of 23 per cent from the previous year while Britain ranked second with sales of 4.8 billion dollars, the study by the Congressional Research Service said. The US has been the world's largest arms merchant for six years.

Eugene Carroll, a retired rear admiral, said the government had been willing to put arms trade ahead of political stability abroad.

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