Russia regrets Saddam146;s execution

8220;The situation in Iraq is developing into a negative scenario. The country is plunged into violence and is actually on the verge of large-scale civil conflict,8221; Kamynin said.

8220;Political consequences of the former Iraqi president8217;s execution must be taken into consideration in this situation, all the more so because the matter of Saddam Hussein8217;s fate is a very sensitive issue for the Iraqi people,8221; he noted.

8220;We hope the Iraqi people will listen to the senior politicians who are urging their supporters to restrain emotions, not to yield to possible provocations, and to jointly look for ways out of the extremely uneasy situation in Iraq,8221; Kamynin said.

8220;For its part, Russia is ready to help in every possible way to achieve a steady and comprehensive settlement in Iraq on the bilateral basis as well as in the framework of collective efforts of the international community,8221; the statement said.

The leader of the Russia8217;s ultranationalist LDPR party Vladimir Zhirinovsky led a peaceful protest rally outside the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow against Hussein8217;s execution.

Thirteen State Duma lower house of Russian parliament lawmakers also participated in the protest rally.

Zhirinovsky, who is also the lower house deputy speaker, said Saddam8217;s execution would lead to the most negative consequences, and would provoke another outburst of anti-American sentiment all over the world, particularly in Muslim countries.