Russia Urges US to Ensure Safety of Its Diplomats in Baghdad

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 10, 2003

Russia Urges US to Ensure Safety of Its Diplomats in Baghdad

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has urged the US Secretary of State Colin Powell to ensure safety of Russian diplomats remaining in Baghdad.

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Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has urged the US Secretary of State Colin Powell to ensure safety of Russian diplomats remaining in Baghdad.

In a telephone conversation Wednesday Ivanov "emphasized the importance of providing full security to the Russian Embassy in Baghdad and its staff," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Some Russian diplomats are still in Baghdad.

Five people were wounded as a Russian diplomatic convoy came under fire near Baghdad while trying to evacuate Iraq to Syria Sunday.

It was unclear whether US or Iraqi forces were responsible for the attack. But Russian ambassador to Iraq Vladimir Titorenko, whowas among the wounded, accused US forces of deliberately shooting at the convoy.

Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, earlier Wednesday categorically denied that Iraqi President SaddamHussein allegedly has taken refuge at the Russian Embassy in Baghdad.

He noted that the spread of such information puts the security of the Russian Embassy at risk.

"Any hostile actions against our embassy will be regarded as a gross violation of the convention of diplomatic privileges and immunity, as well as our agreements with the fighting sides," he warned.

Ivanov and Powell also discussed the current situation in Iraq and exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula issue in light of Wednesday UN Security Council session.

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