Report: Nearly all family members of Russians working in Iraq have been evacuated

AP ^ | 3/5/03 | AP Staff

[jriemer]

MOSCOW - Nearly all family members of Russian officials working in Iraq have been evacuated from the country, Russia's Interfax news agency reported Friday, citing the Russian Embassy in Baghdad.

The Russian Embassy has also closed its school, and sent the teaching staff home, Interfax reported.

But the embassy and other official Russian organizations working in the Persian Gulf nation continued to operate without restrictions, Interfax said. The Russian Foreign Ministry declined to confirm the report.

Last week, the Foreign Ministry announced that Russian organizations in Iraq had decided to evacuate families of their personnel, citing the "psychological aspect" of the threat of war.

Many foreign embassies earlier pulled out nonessential staff and urged citizens to leave, but Russia, which opposes a military operation and has strong economic ties with Iraq, had stuck firm. Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said late last month that there were about 700 Russian "specialists" in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported Friday that some 179 Ukrainians remain in Iraq. Some 60 of their family members were evacuated this week, and another group is due to leave this weekend, ITAR-Tass said.

[jriemer]

When the Bear pulls out, there's something on the horizon.

[Bombard]

I like it! I like it!!!!!

[Arpege92]

"Last week, the Foreign Ministry announced that Russian organizations in Iraq had decided to evacuate families of their personnel, citing the "pyschological aspect" of the threat of war"


Pyschological aspect of the threat of war? Ya right....how about the "Physical danger aspect" of war?

[jriemer]

"Last week, the Foreign Ministry announced that Russian organizations in Iraq had decided to evacuate families of their personnel, citing the "pyschological aspect" of the threat of war"

Pyschological aspect of the threat of war? Ya right....how about the "Physical danger aspect" of war?

The Russians figured something out that still escapes the "human shield" volunteers...

[mass55th]

Fox News said approximately 600 Russians were advised to leave Iraq. I'd like to know why there's so many of them there.

[GOPJ]

Will the last one out turn out the lights?

[Ramius]

I'm not real clear just yet on why the Russians are pushing back so much on war in Iraq. What's their angle?

[jriemer]

(Somewhat in jest) I believe that Saddam still owes the Russians for the equipment we blew up during the first Gulf War. Prior to 1990, Iraq purchased weapons from just about every country with a broker on the arms bazaar. Their major suppliers were Russia and France.