Moscow Believes US-led Military Operation Gets Protracted

Moscow believes the military action in Iraq is becoming increasingly protracted.

The Russian foreign ministry's information and press department reported Thursday that Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and his Greek counterpart Yeoryios Papandreou had discussed the Iraqi problem on the phone Wednesday.

"The Russian side stressed that the military action in Iraq was acquiring a protracted character, which is crammed with high death toll among peaceful civilians," the Russian foreign ministry's report runs.

Besides, the two ministers pronounced themselves in favour of stepping up efforts to settle the Mideast crisis, and above all, promoting the road map plan of the Mideast Quartet.