Russian Diplomats to Leave Iraq

About 50 Russians, including diplomats, will leave their posts in Iraq over the next few days to return to Russia on charter flights. As RTR television channel reports, this was announced by a representative of the Russian embassy in Iraq. The diplomat explained that this step was 'recommended by the Russian Foreign Ministry for security reasons.' About 30 Russians left Iraq last week on charter flights.

As at all foreign Russian embassies there is an evacuation plan at the embassy in Baghdad in case of emergency. When asked about the psychological state of Russians in Iraq, the diplomat only said that 'there is no panic.' There are currently about 700-800 Russians in Iraq.