Ivanov told the Trud newspaper that reports of supposed Russian attempts to avoid war by persuading Saddam it was time to go were the work of publications trying to cast a shadow on Russian diplomacy. "Any talks about S. Hussein's leaving that allegedly are carried out by Russian diplomats in Baghdad is nothing else but supposition," Ivanov said, saying such an action would constitute an intervention in Iraq's internal affairs.

Ivanov, however, said that Russia was in contact with Iraqi officials.

"We are not stopping contacts with Baghdad in order to know more about the mood and thoughts of the Iraqi leadership," Ivanov said.

Moscow has long-standing ties with Iraq that date back to the Soviet period as well as important economic interests in the country.