Saudi Arabia is expected to sign a $70 billion deal for defence deal with Britain within a few days, an informed source said here.

However, the Saudi official news agency quoted a source at the Saudi ministry of defence and aviation as saying, "There are no secret talks between the two countries for a deal to buy the (Euro fighter) Typhoon planes."

A Saudi official indicated that the two sides signed a protocol last December to provide Saudi Arabia with Typhoon planes.

The source said the Defence SEcretary John Reed's visit to the kingdom last December was aimed at resuming talks on a contract. The source did not mention the value of the deal but reports said that it would exceed £40 billion for B.A.E Systems and the protocol will be long term cooperation between the Saudi government and the concerned company.

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