Russia, in a clear attack on U.S. policy, said on Thursday U.N. arms inspectors were being put under pressure to leave Iraq or to produce reports that could be used as a pretext for military action.Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's remarks were Moscow's strongest yet, though he did not name the United States. He had previously accused "certain circles" in Washington of exerting pressure.

"Inspectors are being subjected to very strong pressure in order to provoke their departure from Iraq, as occurred in 1998, or to present to the Security Council assessments which could be used as a pretext for the use of force against Iraq," he said.

He told reporters that Russia, which has deep economic interests in Iraq, was concerned at developments.

There was no immediate comment from the inspectors.

The United States and Britain have massed troops in the Gulf and threatened to attack Iraq if it fails to rid itself of suspected weapons of mass destruction that it denies having.

President Bush  has said a decision on using force was a matter of weeks.

U.N. inspectors are due to report to the U.N. Security Council on March 1 and diplomats expect the United States and Britain to push for a vote a new resolution authorizing force against Iraq shortly afterwards.

"We urge the international inspectors to continue to fulfil their professional activity objectively. The international community should offer them all vital political assistance and not put pressure on them," Ivanov said.

Russia, with France, Germany and China, seeks a diplomatic solution and says it will not back a resolution endorsing force.

RUSSIAN VETO

Ivanov restated Moscow's aim of preserving unity on the Security Council, though Russia reserved the right to use its veto if a new draft were presented.

But Moscow had no objections to examining a new resolution if it was aimed at helping the inspection process, he said.

"We are not opposed to considering drafts that could be submitted to the Security Council, particularly if these drafts are intended to support the activities of international inspectors at implementing resolution 1441," Ivanov said.

Inspectors are operating under a Security Council resolution passed in November to resume inspections halted in late 1998, shortly before U.S. and British aircraft attacked Iraq.

Ivanov also issued a new call for Iraq to help inspectors complete their task if it wanted to avert war.

"Full cooperation from Baghdad is required and we call on Baghdad to offer such cooperation. The sooner we receive concrete results of the inspectors' activities, the higher the chances for a political settlement," he said.

Reports to the Security Council in the past month by chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix have spoken of increased Iraqi willingness to cooperate with their mission, while noting certain shortcomings.

PHOTO CAPTION

A U.N. weapons inspector (R) searches Tikrit University accompanied by Iraqi security in the home town of President Saddam Hussein , February 19, 2003. Russia, in a clear attack on U.S. policy, said on February 20 that U.N. arms inspectors in Iraq were being subjected to pressure to force them to leave or produce reports to be used as a pretext for military action. Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's remarks were stronger than Moscow's previous allegations that Washington was putting pressure on the inspectors. (Akram Saleh/Reuter