MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia reiterated Friday that the UN weapon inspectors should return to Iraq to restart the search for the weapons of mass destruction, stressing a definitive conclusion can only be made after they have completed their mission.

    "It is necessary to make a decision on issues relating to Iraqiweapons of mass destruction," Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotovsaid in an interview with Interfax.

    "This can be done with the help of mechanisms established by the UN Security Council, in particular, through the UN Monitoring,Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)," he said.

    Fedotov made the statement ahead of an UNMOVIC meeting in New York on Friday, where the draft version of the agency's report to the United Nations Security Council will be discussed. He is to lead the Russian delegation to attend the meeting.

    The United States launched invasion to Iraq earlier this year under the pretext that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

    The United States and its allies have been desperately searching for the banned weapons, but found nothing to back their claims. Enditem