MOSCOW, Aug. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that US-based ABC television company is not welcome to contact any Russian government organizations or agencies, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    Contacts of any Russian governmental organizations and agencies with the US ABC are viewed as undesirable, the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department said on Tuesday.

    "It has been decided not to extend the accreditation of representatives of this television company after the current accreditation period expires," the department was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

    The decision is based on "circumstances of the ABC broadcast ofan interview with international terrorist Shamil Basayev, the obvious support to the propaganda of terrorism, and direct appealsfor violence as regards Russian citizens," the department said.

    The department noted that Andrei Babitsky, a staff member of Radio Liberty, had the interview with the terrorist "in violation of Russian laws and without a proper accreditation".

    It said "Circumstances of the organization and holding of that interview are yet to be learned from his employer".

    The US TV company ABC does not have a permanent representative office in Russia, according to the Interfax news agency.

    ABC management in the US decided to close down its office in Moscow several months ago as part of a cost-cutting plan, the Interfax said. Enditem