Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov is expected to arrive in Baghdad Wednesday for talks with high-ranking officials on United States threats to take military action against Iraq, a Western diplomat said.
Saltanov, who will spend less than 48 hours in the capital of Baghdad, is to meet Deputy Premier Tareq Aziz and Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, the diplomat told AFP.
The Russian foreign ministry said earlier this week that Saltanov would launch a Middle East peace mission on Wednesday that will take him to Iraq and several other Arab countries. Besides Iraq, Saltanov will visit Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the envoy will focus on negotiations aimed at averting a possible US strike on Iraq. (Albawaba.com)
