Iraq Will Not Use Foreigners as Human Shield

Iraq has refused help from foreign volunteers including Russians. According to Echo Moskvi radio station, this was announced today by Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Abbas Halaf. He said that the Iraqi embassy would not be providing the numerous Russian volunteers with entry visas to Iraq. The ambassador added that there have been more than 7 thousand such applications. Moreover, according to Mr Halaf, the Iraqi leadership has asked all those foreign pacifists who have arrived in Iraq to return home as soon as possible.