Security is tight as dozens of foreigners are held hostage

The evacuation of more than 800 people comes amid growing concern about the hostage crisis in Iraq, where gunmen have killed an Italian captive.

Three planes returned to Moscow from Baghdad on Thursday and four more flights are planned for Friday.

Three Russians and five Ukrainians were abducted then freed in Iraq this week.

While the Russian evacuation was in progress, Japan confirmed that three of its nationals abducted last week had been released unharmed.

Russia plans to evacuate 553 Russians and 263 citizens from other former Soviet countries.

CONFIRMED FOREIGN HOSTAGES 4 Italians - one killed 3 Czechs 1 American 1 Canadian 1 Israeli Arab Timeline: Hostages in Iraq

They include 376 employees of the Tekhnoprom energy firm, the largest Russian contractor in Iraq.

Alexander Abramov, head of Interenergoservis, whose workers were briefly held on Monday, said only 25 of the company's 365 staff in Iraq had expressed a desire to leave, Interfax news agency reported.

Other governments have also advised their citizens to leave the country.

A French journalist kidnapped on Sunday has now been released. Alexandre Jordanov was in good health after his ordeal, French officials said.

The US-led coalition said this week that about 40 foreigners were being held hostage by militants after two weeks of unrest in both Sunni and Shia parts of Iraq.

France and Germany have formally asked their citizens to leave Iraq while the UK has advised against travelling there unless absolutely essential.

Several of the Russian and Ukrainian hostages released on Tuesday said the gunmen freed them after discovering they worked for a company from Russia, which opposed Iraq's occupation.

Russian firms are involved in reconstruction projects in power, transport, oil and gas sectors.