Russia calls for inspectors in Iraq

UN inspectors, who were pulled out on the eve of the invasion in March, have not been admitted to Iraq since.

"The question of Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) cannot finally be closed, while UNMOVIC (monitoring agency) and the IAEA have not reported, as is required in Security Council resolutions," a foreign ministry statement said.

Russia, along with France and Germany, spearheaded opposition to the US plans to overthrow Saddam, insisting UN inspectors should be allowed more time to search for weapons.

US forces, who have faced widespread resistance to their occupation of Iraq, have searched for banned weapons since Saddam was overthrown, but have found nothing to back up their claims that he was producing anything illegal.