Russia said Saturday it was deeply concerned over renewed US and British air raids on Iraq earlier this week.
"The sudden renewal of US and British air raids on Iraq territory in no-fly zones are cause for profound concern in Russia and the whole world," a foreign ministry statement said.
The statement said the "illegal" bombings were increasing tension in the region and on the international stage.
Six Iraqis were reported injured last week when US and British planes bombed civilian targets in the north and south of the country.
Baghdad claims that 316 civilians have been killed and 942 injured since the end of Operation Desert Fox in December 1998.
The US and British patrols enforce no-fly zones over both northern and southern Iraq that were imposed after the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait.
Iraq does not recognize the zones, which are not endorsed by any specific UN resolution – MOSCOW (AFP)
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