In a letter sent yesterday to the Iraqi president, Yeltsin said: ``The situation is now such that the threat of using force may become a reality unless an urgent political solution is found.

The Russian President in his letter also articulated his country's opposition to a military action against Iraq, echoing the views expressed by the foreign ministry last night.

Not only the Gulf countries but the entire West Asian region will face dramatic exacerbation of the situation, he said last night. He denounced intensive preparation being made by the US for undertaking action against Iraq.

The Russian foreign ministry is actively working with Baghdad, UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Arab and other states in an effort to prevent the use of military force against Iraq, he said.