Responding to the simmering security crisis in Iraq, Russia has announced plans to evacuate its citizens alongside those of 12 former Soviet republics.

CTV.ca News Staff

Responding to the simmering security crisis in Iraq, Russia says it will begin evacuating its citizens this week. The announcement comes after three Russian and five Ukrainian contractors were kidnapped in Baghdad.

A spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations says seven flights will retrieve specialists from Russia and former Soviet republics who have been working in the war-torn country.

"Preliminary plans are to evacuate 553 Russian citizens and 263 citizens from countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States who are working on Russian contracts at facilities in Iraq," Viktor Beltsov told The Associated Press on Wednesday, noting the first of the flights -- from Moscow to Baghdad and Kuwait -- is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

On Monday, the eight employees of Russian energy company Interenergoservis were abducted by masked gunmen. They were released unharmed the next day.

Russia is just one of a handful of countries whose citizens have fallen victim to kidnappers in Iraq this week.

But unlike Japan, which continues to refused to meet the demands of whoever kidnapped three of its citizens -- to remove its troops -- Putin has been steadfast in his refusal of military support for the U.S.-led occupation.

Ties to the U.S. may have little influence, however, as another American ally, the Philippines, said Wednesday it too was considering withdrawing its 100 troops from Iraq.

Philippine military and police deployed in central Iraq have not yet suffered fatalities, although a civilian driver was released unharmed after being taken hostage earlier this week.

The latest reported abductions are of four Italian security guards working for a French Tv reporter and a U.S.-based company.

Signalling his continuing support for the U.S.-led war, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has responded by ruling out a withdrawal of his country's troops, stationed in Nasiriyah.

"The peace mission of the Italian soldiers in Iraq, in line with the international commitments that have been taken on, is absolutely not in question," Berlusconi said.

Nationals of coalition partners and bystanders have both been kidnapping targets in the past week. According to a U.S. spokesperson, 40 foreigners from 12 countries are currently held hostage, though the Associated Press put the number at 22.

• U.S. contractor Haliburton has reported seven employees missing, including 43-year-old Macon, Miss. truck driver Thomas Hamill. Abducted in Fallujah Friday, there's no word of his fate.
• French journalist Alexandre Jordanov was taken hostage Sunday, while videotaping an attack on an American military convoy.
• Three Czech journalists are believed to have been abducted Sunday. In an interview with Czech television, Iraqi Minister of Culture Mofeed al-Jazaeri said they were fine, and expected there release Wednesday.
• Canadian Fadi Ihsan Fadel was captured last Wednesday in Najaf. Ottawa has urged his release as it tries to discount reports Fadel wasn't, in fact, an aid worker. Nabil Razouk, 30, an Arab from East Jerusalem was also abducted the same day.