Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the US war in Iraq was a "pointless" battle against the Iraqi people.
"One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime . . . but it's absolutely pointless to fight with a people," Mr Putin said on television.
"It is strong enough to protect its interests within the national territory and, by the way, in other regions of the world.
"Thank God Russia is not Iraq," Mr Putin added.
When asked about supposed US intentions to gain control over Russia's huge, resource-rich interior, Mr Putin said: "I know that such ideas are brewing in the heads of some politicians. I think it is a sort of political eroticism which maybe gives someone pleasure but will hardly lead anywhere and the best example of that is Iraq."
Mr Putin, who faces parliamentary elections in December, hailed Russia's strong economic growth and rising living standards during exchanges with questioners connected live from different Russian cities.
He admitted that inflation, which at 8.5 per cent in the year to date has exceeded the government's target for the whole year, was a problem but blamed global economic factors such as cuts in European agricultural subsidies and demand for biofuels.