MOSCOW, July 12 (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday part of the blame for the killing of five Russian diplomats in Iraq in June lay with coalition forces, including the United States.

"The abduction and murder of our diplomats is a great tragedy," he said in an interview with U.S. television channel NBC.

After being asked whether he blamed the United States for that, Putin said: "If the United States and its allies assumed responsibility for Iraq when they decided to deploy their troops there, then of course, they are also responsible for the security of noncombatants, especially the security of the diplomatic corps."

He also said that had the United States used peaceful means in Iraq, it might not be the breeding ground for terrorism that it is today.

He said disintegration of Iraq was a real threat and it was vital to avert it.

"I believe there are more opportunities now for making life [in Iraq] better. But from the security perspective, the situation has worsened, and there is a real threat of the disintegration of the state," he said, adding that should this happen, it would have far-reaching, possibly negative consequences for the region as a whole.