The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday four Russian diplomats taken hostage in Iraq had been killed by their abductors.

 

"We are deeply saddened to report that despite all measures taken to secure the release of the Russian embassy employees in Iraq, the situation is irreparable," the ministry said in a statement.

 

"We demand that the Iraqi leadership and the command of the coalition forces do everything possible to ensure that none of the criminals involved in the murder of our citizens escapes punishment," the ministry said.

 

The four diplomats were abducted in Baghdad on June 3 when their vehicle came under fire from gunmen. A fifth Russian diplomat was killed in the attack.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2006)