Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Ukraine

Kuchma Orders Plans For Troop Pullout From Iraq

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma (file photo)

Kyiv, 10 January 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma today ordered his defense and foreign ministers to draw up plans to withdraw Ukraine's troops from Iraq in the first half of 2005.

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January 10, 2005

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk made the announcement at a news conference in Kyiv. He said the first withdrawal of about 1,600 troops could be as early as March.

Seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed and seven injured yesterday while defusing a bomb in the central Wasit region.

Yesterday, the winner of Ukraine's presidential election, Viktor Yushchenko, said withdrawing Ukraine's troops from Iraq will be a priority for him once he takes office.

Earlier, British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said Britain will send an extra 400 troops to Iraq ahead of the 30 January elections.

(Interfax-Ukraine/AFP/AP)

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