Five diplomats were wounded in the incident |
A group of Russian diplomats, some of whom were injured by gunfire as they left Baghdad on Sunday, have arrived in Syria.
They were welcomed by staff of the Russian embassy in Damascus, who helped to examine a bullet lodged in the seat of the ambassador's Mercedes.
Russian media quote the ambassador, Vladimir Titorenko, as saying it was a 5.56-millimetre bullet fired from an M16 rifle used by US forces.
Five of the nine embassy staff in the convoy, which also included Russian journalists, were wounded.
One of them, the ambassadors' driver, was operated on for serious stomach injuries, and has remained in the city of Fallujah 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, accompanied by an Arabic-speaking diplomat.
US-Russia rapprochement
Russian journalists said the diplomatic convoy got caught in crossfire after US-led coalition forces opened fire on Iraqi troops.
The US national security adviser has had "good conversations" in Moscow |
They also said that the coalition had been informed of the diplomats' travel plans, and that the ambassador's car was flying a Russian flag.
The incident was discussed by US National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice in meetings in Moscow on Monday with Russia's foreign and defence ministers.
Correspondents say the shooting has cast a shadow over Ms Rice's visit, but that both sides want to use the occasion to smooth over their recent disagreements over Iraq.
In her only comment to journalists she said she had had "very good conversations".
US Central Command in Qatar said "initial reports" indicated there were no US or British troops nearby.
But in Washington, General Peter Pace, deputy head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon was investigating.
"There was no reporting by any ground unit of the coalition of any kind of contact" with the motorcade, he said.
Ambassador drives himself
A medically equipped Russian aircraft has been sent from Moscow to Syria to fly the diplomats home on Monday night.
The ambassador, Vladimir Titorenko, was slightly hurt in the shooting, but was able to drive his own official limousine instead of his wounded driver.
The convoy of embassy staff and journalists was made up of four cars, carrying some 23 people.
Bullet holes in the cars were also being analysed.
The convoy later split up with journalists, who went on ahead.
At least one of the journalists accused the US troops of opening fire deliberately on the convoy.
Until Sunday 26 staff had remained in the Russian embassy in Baghdad.
Now the number has been reduced to 12.
