Moscow said today it plans to airlift over 800 Russians and citizens of ex-Soviet states out of Iraq this week despite the safe release of Russian and Ukrainian hostages in Baghdad.
"Seven flights will be made from Kuwait and Baghdad to fly out 553 Russians and 263 citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States working in Iraq," a Russian Emergencies Ministry spokesman said, but gave no further details.
Planes will be sent tomorrow and Friday for the evacuation. Unidentified gunmen seized three Russians and five Ukrainians on Monday working on building a power plant in Baghdad.
The hostages were released within 24 hours after the kidnappers learned some of them were from Russia, which opposes the US-led occupation of Iraq. Ukraine has sent troops to join the coalition.
Most Russian companies working in Iraq are involved in projects to rebuild the energy network destroyed by the US military operation last year. Some of them hire nationals from former Soviet states.