Ukraine troops pull out of Kut
2004-04-07 14:38
Kiev - Ukrainian troops Wednesday withdrew from the Iraqi city of Kut, south of the capital Baghdad, after heavy fighting with supporters of radical Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr who now control the city, the defence ministry said.
"At the request of the Americans, and to preserve the life of our military, the commander of the Ukrainian contingent decided to evacuate the civil administration staff and Ukrainian troops from Kut," the ministry said in a statement.
"The operation began at dawn on Wednesday ... under escort from attack helicopters," the ministry added.
- AFP