"The training exercises are not scheduled to take part in the Gulf," Ivanov said during a visit to the Belarus capital.

He further dismissed speculation that the war games were linked to the US-led war in Iraq, which Moscow has furiously opposed.

"We had planned these exercises a long time ago, and we spoke openly about it," Ivanov said. "This is no way linked to what is going on in Iraq and around it."

Ivanov did not address reports that Russia was still likely to send its navy to the Arabian Sea near the Gulf region where the United States is leading a war against Iraq.

Russian navy officials had earlier announced that at least two fleets -- the Pacific and the Black Sea -- would stage exercises in the Indian Ocean next month.

It was not immediately clear how many vessels would take part in the exercises.

SPACE.WIRE