Moscow: The low level of resistance against the US-led invasion could be because
Iraqi Generals struck secret deals with Washington, Russia's Ambassador in Iraq,
Vladimir Titirenko who returned home from the war-zone said on April 14.
"I am confident that the Iraqi Generals entered into secret deal with the Americans
to refrain from resistance in exchange for sparing their lives," Titorenko told NTV,
explaining why Saddam's crack National Guards did not pose any considerable
resistance to the occupation forces and virtually surrendered Baghdad without a
fight.
Titorenko, who returned home from Baghdad on April 14 via Damascus, told NTV network
that it was "most probable" that Saddam and his close associates were killed in one
of the bombardments of secret Presidential bunkers.
Titorenko left Baghdad on April 6 by road and on his way to Damascus, his diplomatic
convoy was attacked by the US Rangers near the Iraqi capital souring Moscow's
already strained relations with Washington.
He had to leave his badly wounded driver in the hospital in Iraqi town of al
Fallujah and drive all the way to Iraq's border with Syria with a fractured finger
and shrapnel stuck in his shoulder.
Next day, Titorenko returned to al Fallujah to evacuate his driver to a Damascus
hospital, where he was operated for the second time on his abdomen, wounded by three
American
bullets. The driver would return to Russia later, he said.
Meanwhile, the state-run TV showed footage of Russian Embassy in Baghdad, which
looked intact but for its slightly damaged brass nameplate.
PTI
