Moscow: Russia on December 22 categorically ruled out its participation in a possible US-led military operation against Iraq.

"Russia does not see the goals for the sake of which it could join military operations against Iraq," Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told Russia's 'Channel 1' network.

"We have a common base - Resolution 1441, where we must work and must seek the implementation of the goals laid in there," he said.

"If others want to pursue other goals, then it goes beyond the framework of our interests," Ivanov stressed adding that with Washington Moscow only shares the goal of depriving Baghdad of its weapons of mass destruction.

PTI