By Stephen Dalziel BBC Russian affairs analyst, Moscow

In an interview with a Russian newspaper, Alexander Vershbow said Washington knew that there were contacts between the Russian and Iraqi secret services.

However, he admitted that more information would be needed about the latest allegations of Moscow's co-operation with Baghdad.

Mr Vershbow, speaking to the Vremya Novostei newspaper, was playing the role of the classic diplomat.

He denied reports that the United States was now threatening Syria.

The US embassy has been focus of anti-war anger

He insisted that the incident when US soldiers fired on a convoy of Russian diplomats leaving Baghdad was unintentional.

He said Washington was satisfied that Moscow was doing everything to investigate allegations that Russian military equipment had been illegally sent to Baghdad.

And by playing down the questions raised in recent days - notably in the British press - about links between the Russian and Iraqi secret services, the ambassador is trying to take the heat out of a potentially serious diplomatic row.

US President George W Bush is due to hold a mini-summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in St Petersburg at the end of May, within the celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of Russia's second city.

Sn Relations between Washington and Moscow have been strained in recent weeks, because of the Kremlin's opposition to the war in Iraq.

An increase in tension now could put Mr Bush's trip in jeopardy.

Mr Putin has invited many of the world's leaders to celebrate his city's anniversary.