Kremlin: Russian Envoys Wounded in Iraq

[thedrifter]

Apr 6, 7:25 AM EDT

Kremlin: Russian Envoys Wounded in Iraq

By SARAH KARUSH
Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW (AP) -- A convoy of Russian diplomats came under fire Sunday as they were evacuating from Baghdad and some were wounded, the Kremlin said.

The Foreign Minister said the convoy, which included the Russian ambassador, came under fire as it was moving toward the Syrian border. Russian officials had long ago evacuated most of the embassy's staff, but a core team had remained until Sunday.

President Vladimir Putin has been informed about the incident, the Kremlin press service said.

The Foreign Ministry said it urgently called in the U.S. and Iraqi ambassadors and asked them to take all measures necessary to guarantee Russian citizens' safety in Iraq, investigate the circumstances of the attack and punish those responsible.

The ministry said there were wounded but had no information on how many.

Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said the U.S. government was investigating the incident and trying to gather information from allied commanders in the area.

Vershbow said the United States had been aware of the planned evacuation ahead of time.

Russia is opposed to the U.S.-led war against Iraq. However, Putin has attempted to adopt a softer tone in recent days, saying that a U.S. defeat would not be in Russia's interests and pledging continued cooperation with the United States.

On Wednesday, Russia protested against American airstrikes that allegedly targeted a Baghdad neighborhood where the Russian Embassy was located. Russia did not report any casualties in connection with those strikes.


Sempers,

Roger