The Russian foreign ministry has criticised Britain for calling for the overthrow of the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein.

But the ministry also said that Baghdad must comply fully with United Nations' weapons inspections.

The comments came in a statement issued after a meeting in Moscow between a leading member of Iraq's ruling Ba'ath Party MR A.

Ghafur, and the Russian foreign minister, The British Foreign office has asked Iraqi opposition groups to come up with proposals for governing Iraq without Saddam Hussein.