Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing noted in telephone talks Tuesday the need for "the quickest end to military operations and the importance of ensuring the central role of the UN in a post-war settlement of the Iraqi problem," the statement said.

China and Russia both permanent members of the UN Security Council, are opposed to the US-led war in Iraq.

Ivanov also held telephone talks Tuesday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in which both agreed on the importance of a central UN role in Iraq, the ministry said in a second statement.

Annan had been due to fly to Saint Petersburg Saturday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin but cancelled his trip Tuesday.

He will now go to Athens instead to meet with European leaders on the sidelines of an EU enlargement signing ceremony next week.

SPACE.WIRE