Russia expresses regret at start of Iraq war, reports first victims
Thu Mar 20 2003 02:17:51 ET
Moscow/Baghdad (dpa) - Amid first reports of 10 bombing casualties, the Russian leadership voiced regret Thursday at the start of large-scale U.S. military action against Iraq.
;One can only express the deepest regret under such circumstances,'' an unnamed government spokesman told the Interfax news agency in Moscow.
Ten people died in the first wave of U.S. airstrikes on Baghdad, Russian ORT state television reported from the capital, citing the Iraqi Information Ministry. There was no other confirmation of the reports.
Meanwhile, Russian security services were put in a state of alert although this did not include the armed forces, the Defence Ministry said.
President Vladimir Putin was being constantly briefed about developments in the Gulf, his spokesman Alexei Gromov said.
Russia has been one of the chief opponents to military action in the U.S. standoff with Iraq.
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