Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service denied as “baseless” Pentagon claims that Moscow provided information to Saddam Hussein’s regime on US troop movements and plans during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, in the latest spat in an increasingly tense bilateral relationship.

RUSSIA’S ambassador to Baghdad last night claimed US forces attacked his convoy as it fled Iraq, despite diplomatic licence plates and his country’s flag being clearly visible on a car.

A convoy of Russian diplomats came under fire Sunday as they were evacuating Baghdad, the Kremlin said.