Ukraine to Pull Contingent Out of Iraq: Minister

Ukraine will withdraw its 1,400-strong military contingent from Iraq by the end of next year, Defence Minister Oleksander Kuzmuk was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

"Next April we will be sending only a reinforced battalion rather than a brigade and by the end of 2005 we will complete our pullout of the contingent," Mr Kuzmuk's press service quoted him as saying.

The statement said a battalion would be made up of about 500 servicemen.

Ukraine's original contingent sent to Iraq was made up of some 1,600 servicemen. It has suffered nine dead and 30 injured.

The withdrawal is supported by all political forces in Ukraine.

Liberal Viktor Yushchenko, winner of this week's presidential election re-run of one that had been declared rigged, favoured the pullout as did his defeated rival, Viktor Yanukovich.

Outgoing President Leonid Kuchma sent troops to bolster the US-led force in Iraq to smooth over relations with Washington, strained over allegations that Kiev had sold illicit arms to Baghdad while Saddam Hussein was in power.

- Reuters