Reports from Moscow say that the Russian ambassador to Britain, Yury Fokin, is due to return to London today Saturday.

The Russian ambassador in Washington, Yuli Vorontsov, who was recalled at the same time as Mr Fokin, returned to the United States on Wednesday.

Both ambassadors were recalled in protest against the United States' and Britain's attacks on Iraq.

Officials in Moscow are quoted as saying that the return of the Russian ambassador to London would not change Russia's extremely negative opinion of the military action against Iraq.