Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Ukraine votes to pull out of Iraq



Kiev, Ukraine, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The Ukrainian Parliament passed a motion Friday calling on outgoing President Leonid Kuchma to withdraw the country's troops from Iraq.

Ukraine has around 1,600 soldiers operating in Iraq. The motion was supported by both opposition and pro-government deputies.

The resolution called for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces due to what it called "the deteriorating situation" in Iraq. Ukraine has lost nine soldiers in Iraq with more than 20 wounded.

As the world focuses on developments following Ukraine's disputed presidential election, Friday's decision is more bad news for the Bush administration from Eastern Europe.

Hungary has said it will withdraw its troops by the end of the year, while the Czech Republic and Poland are planning to bring their troops home next year.

Public opinion in Ukraine, as in the rest of formerly communist Eastern Europe, has long been hostile to participation in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.


http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041203-053334-1900r.htm