Moscow, 8 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has again called for the quick return of weapons inspectors to Iraq. The Russian Foreign Ministry says Ivanov made the appeal in a telephone conversation late yesterday with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The ministry did not mention the speech made last night by U.S. President George W. Bush, in which he said that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a "murderous tyrant" who may be planning to attack the U.S. with biological or chemical weapons.
In his conversation with Powell, Ivanov stressed the need of resolving the Iraqi crisis "through political-diplomatic methods based on corresponding UN Security Council resolutions."
In his conversation with Powell, Ivanov stressed the need of resolving the Iraqi crisis "through political-diplomatic methods based on corresponding UN Security Council resolutions."