Russian Citizens, Except Russian Embassy, Leave Iraq

The Il-62M "Mikhail Gromov" aircraft assigned to the Russian Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergency and Natural Disasters flew off to Iraq to take Russian and CIS citizens away from the country, the press service of the Ministry reported.

Before March 10th, the aircraft will fly to Baghdad five times.

The Russian Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergency and Natural Disasters stressed that it was not evacuation but a departure of those Russian specialists who had made up their minds to leave Iraq.

"A lot of specialists do not think it is necessary to leave Iraq," the information and public relations department of the Russian Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergency and Natural Disasters said. In particular, "the Russian Embassy in Iraq is continuing its activities."