Russian Embassy Still Stays in Baghdad - 21 March, 2003

The Russian Embassy in Baghdad was not damaged during the night air attacks on the city. The Russian diplomatic mission reported over telephone on Friday morning that "the night was calm".

The situation in Baghdad is "normal and quiet" and there is no panic, the embassy said.

The evacuation of the remaining 15 diplomats and the ambassador is not at issue, the embassy's official noted. The Russian embassy enough food and water to be able to work autonomously.

Most representatives of the Russian mass media stay in Baghdad's Palestine Hotel, and a CNN studio is seated there too, said the embassy's official.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said earlier that scenarios of emergency evacuation of the embassy's personnel had been worked out.