KIEV, Jan. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Ukraine's outgoing President Leonid Kuchma ordered officials on Monday to draw up plans to withdraw the country's contingent of troops from Iraq in the first half of 2005, the Interfax news agency reported.

    A spokeswoman said that Kuchma had given the order during a meeting with his defense and foreign ministers.

    The move came after eight Ukrainian soldiers were killed in an accidental explosion in Iraq on Sunday. Enditem