"I represent Iraq and the Iraqi people and I will continue to carry out my responsiblities until a new legitimate government is formed, elected by the Iraqi people and recognised by the United Nations," Abbas Khalaf told the Interfax news agency.

The Iraqi envoy denied that he planned to apply for political asylum in Russia.

"I have not sought and I will not seek political asylum, neither in Russia nor in any other country," he said.

On Thursday, a day after the Baghdad regime collapsed, an Iraqi embassy spokesman in Moscow said the diplomatic mission was working as normal and insisted there were no plans to remove portraits of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"We are working as normal and have no plans to change our routine. I have a picture of Saddam Hussein hanging above me as we speak, and I have no plans to take it down," the spokesman told AFP by telephone Thursday.

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