MOSCOW -- Statements accusing Iraq of possessing hidden weapons are "gratuitous chatter" a Russian government official said on Saturday, adding that such accusations may be being used as a smokescreen, AFP reported. Without mentioning any country by name, Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov, said that the accusations being made against Iraq "serve no purpose, and only strengthen the fear around the world that the issue of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction is being used to cover up other aims."

"If somebody possesses genuine information on the presence in Iraq of forbidden weapons, or the continuation of attempts to build them, it would be logical to submit such information to the UN's inspection agencies -- the Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency," he added, according to the ITAR-TASS news agency.

"Over a hundred inspectors from those international bodies are currently in Iraq, and could check on the ground whatever information may be worrying such and such a country," he added.

The United States, backed by Britain, is threatening to make war against Iraq, accusing it of possessing weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq possesses the second-biggest known reserves of oil of any country in the world, after Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, another Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Yury Fedotov, said there were indications from United States declarations that Washington did not rule out a political solution to the crisis.

Reiterating Russia's own belief in a political rather than a military solution, Fedotov was quoted by ITAR-TASS as saying: "We have noted that the possibility of a political solution has also been raised in certain official statements from Washington.

"We believe the inspections are proceeding as normal and that there have been no lapses or refusals to cooperate with international inspectors," he added.

"This underlines Iraq's positive disposition toward cooperation with the United Nations and implementation of Security Council resolutions," he said.