RUSSIAN aeronautical manufacturer, Yakovlev, yesterday denied suggestions that it intended to acquire a majority stake in the bankrupt Dutch aircraft maker, Fokker.

Agency reports quoted a Yakovlev director, Mr Viktor Glukhikh, as saying the firm only wanted to take part in setting up a joint Russian Dutch company which would manufacture planes for the regional aircraft market, which is currently 25 per cent controlled by Fokker.

The Russian government announced last Wednesday that it had agreed in principle to Yakovlev's plans to buy Fokker.