Iraq deputy prime minister shortens visit to Russia

The Russian Itar Tass said, according to Iraqi diplomatic sources that the Iraqi deputy premier has shortened his visit to Moscow and canceled the new consultations he had intended to make with the Russian officials and returned back to Baghdad.

The agency explained that Aziz shortens his visit so as he will be able to take part in Baghdad in the meetings held following the accusations addressed by the US President George Bush against Iraq in his recent speech before the US Congress.

It was schedule that upon his arrival on Wednesday in Moscow coming from Beijing, Aziz would have held talks with the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov with whom he met as he stopped in Moscow last week.

Moscow, however, seeks to convince Baghdad to permit the return back of the UN weapons inspectors, and this will be for suspending the UN sanctions imposed on it. To this effect, Russian - American consultations on the so called "smart sanctions " on Iraq are expected to be held in Geneva on February 6 to 8.