MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko has urged the heads of Russian media "to immediately recall their correspondents from Iraq for security reasons."
"According to our information, there are 26 Russian journalists in Iraq at the moment, whose personal security has been seriously threatened with the beginning of military action," Yakovenko said in a statement circulated on Thursday.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry is extremely worried about the continuing presence of Russian journalists in Iraq, despite recommendations by the Ministry and our embassy in Baghdad that they leave the country," he said.
"The (Foreign - Interfax) Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Baghdad have taken urgent measures to provide security for the journalists. A team of journalists, at their request, was provided shelter on Embassy grounds in the early hours of March 20. However, in the dangerous situation that is developing, the immediate departure of Russian journalists from Iraq is more relevant than ever," he said.