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© unknownA file photo of German-made Heckler and Koch G36 Assault rifle
A German government report has revealed that Germany sold around EUR 2 billion (USD 2.66 billion) in weapons and military hardware in 2010 -- an increase of around 50 percent compared to the previous year.

The data appeared in the German government's annual Defense Exports Report, Der Spiegel reported on Monday.

Most of the arms deliveries were to European Union member countries or NATO states, but some defense products found markets in Africa and the Persian Gulf states as well, the German weekly said.

In 2009, the country exported EUR 1.34 billion worth of defense products. Most of the products exported were high-value armaments like submarines, warships and tanks.

In addition, German armaments manufacturers sealed contracts in 2010 with a total value of around EUR 5 billion.

German arms exports remain a controversial issue because Berlin cannot guarantee that its exported weapons remain in the countries to which they were sold.

Earlier this year, German-made Heckler & Koch G-36 assault rifles that had officially been delivered to Egypt were later discovered in Libya.

The German Green Party has reacted to the move, urging the German Federal Security Council to stop approving its bills secretly.

The Green Party says a parliamentarian institution should control Federal Security Council.