Convoy of Russian Diplomatic Cars to Continue Moving Towards Iraqi-Syrian Border

On Monday morning, the convoy of cars carrying the staffers of Russia's Embassy in Iraq will continue moving towards the Iraqi-Syrian border.

Yesterday, before at the exit from Baghdad towards the Iraqi-Syrian border the Russian diplomatic cars carrying the staffers of the Embassy, including Ambassador Vladimir Titorenko, and Russian journalists were attacked. The TV journalists who witnessed the developments reported that fire was opened by American servicemen. As a result of the fire attack, five Russian citizens were wounded.

After the fire attack the Russian citizens stopped at the Iraqi town of Faluj. At that town medical assistance was given to the wounded, and their condition is assessed as satisfactory.

A RIA Novosti correspondent in Baghdad has found out that one of the wounded diplomats underwent surgery. Two bullets, both from the American automatic rifle M-16, were extracted.

Fire at the cars of the Russian diplomats and newsmen at the exit from Baghdad was delivered by American troops, correspondent of the Rossia TV channel Alexander Minakov who was in the auto convoy said in his appearance in the News of the Week programme.

According to him, the Russians' motor vehicles came under "squall fire" on the positions of the Iraqi troops located along the road along which the convoy was following. "All the five automobiles of the convoy were damaged," the TV journalist said. "There are bullet holes in all the motor vehicles. Two bullets hit the back part of our jeep where our luggage and equipment were kept." The reporter confirmed the information of the RIA Novosti correspondent in Damascus that fire was delivered from the M-16 automatic vehicles which the U.S. Army and Marines are armed with. "We have now specially had a look - these are small holes corresponding precisely to the calibre of the M-16. There is no other option," Alexander Minakov concluded.

The journalist said that, as a result of the fire attack, one of the diplomats was wounded in his stomach but was promptly operated on by Iraqi physicians, and his life is not in danger now.

The Emergencies Ministry operational officer on duty told RIA Novosti on Sunday that the transportation of the people wounded in the fire attack on the Russian diplomatic convoy would be arranged during the night.