"It appears that Baghdad's government is no longer in control, thus the Iraqi embassy must suspend relation with the foreign ministry, but Thailand is not cutting relations with Iraq," he told reporters.

Two Iraqi diplomats remain in Thailand, one of whom told AFP on Friday that the mission had lost contact with Baghdad.

Three junior diplomats and eight Iraqi nationals were expelled from Thailand in March, after being accused of posing national security threats.

Thaksin said soon afterwards that the embassy had been closed due to a staff shortage which resulted from the expulsion of the diplomats and the charge d'affaires suffering from an illness.

The Iraqi diplomat, however, said the mission had never officially closed, although its operations were reduced.

Thailand, a US ally in its war on terror, remained neutral throughout the conflict but has pledged humanitarian assistance to help in Iraq's reconstruction.

SPACE.WIRE