Turkey on Wednesday condemned the killing of four Russian diplomats in Iraq, saying terrorism poses a big threat against international peace and security.

Turkish Foreign Ministry made the condemnation in a statement issued on Wednesday, reported the semi-official Anatolia news agency.

"Unfortunately, we have learned that the four kidnapped Russian diplomats were killed" and "Turkey condemns this grave terrorist act," the ministry said in a statement.

"Turkey thinks that terrorism poses a big threat against international peace and security and never approves any terrorist attack," it added.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had sent a message to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and expressed his deep sorrow and concern over the incident, Anatolia said.

The Russia Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that four Russian diplomats taken hostage in Iraq had been killed.

The Russian embassy workers were abducted in Baghdad on June 3 when their vehicle came under fire from gunmen.

In a statement posted on a Web site frequently used by Islamist militants, a group linked to the al-Qaida terror network in Iraq which had claimed responsibility for the abduction, announced on Sunday that it had executed the four Russian hostages.

The statement was signed by the Mujahedeen Shura Council, which is believed to be an umbrella grouping several insurgent groups in Iraq, including al-Qaida.

Source: Xinhua