Russia's deputy defence minister, Anatoly Antonov, has accused the family of Turkish President Erdogan of being directly involved in the trade of oil with IS. Mr. Antonov said Turkey was the biggest buyer of ‘stolen’ oil from Syria and Iraq. Mr Erdogan said Russia had no right to ‘slander’ Turkey. The Syrian conflict has given rise to an extensive war economy in which murky deals are struck between a host of partners, even including groups that are fighting each other on the battlefield (see also this week’s Prayer Alert World article no 1). ‘It is not possible to explain Russia's allegations by reason,’ said Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, rejecting Russia's claims at a meeting of businessmen in Ankara. US officials have previously said they have information suggesting Turkish ‘middlemen’ are involved in the illegal IS oil trade.