Some of interenergoservis employees ready to leave Iraq on May 17

The Russian-based company Interenergoservis is making lists of its employees, who will leave Iraq by charter on May 17, company's press secretary Yevgeny Loginov told RIA Novosti on Friday. The lists are coming by email, he added.

According to Mr. Loginov, 120 people were expected to leave Iraq, however, less of them are likely to return to Russia.

All in all, 340 Interenergoservis employees are involved in the restoration of Iraq's energy objects.

The agreement with the Iraqi Energy Ministry implies that the restoration works should be accomplished by June 15, 2004.

However, on May 10 unknown persons attacked a car of the company employees in Baghdad's suburb, killed one of them and took two as hostages. This accident caused the necessity to evacuate Interenergoservis employees. Negotiations on the release of hostage are underway in Iraq.

Having questioned the employees in Iraq, Interenergoservis management promised to hold voluntary evacuation.

The body of the killed Russian Alexei Konoryov will be also taken to Moscow by charter on May 17.