Ukraine Agrees to Send Anti-Chemical Warfare Troops to Iraq

Ukraine has agreed in principle to send its anti-chemical and biological warfare units to Iraq. This was announced to journalists yesterday in Kiev by Yevgeny Marchuk, the chairman of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council. According to Marchuk, the Ukrainian soldiers will not participate directly in any military action in Iraq. They are expected to be deployed in one of the Persian Gulf states.

Last Sunday Washington sent an official request to Kiev to consider sending the Ukrainian units to Iraq. US State Department representatives suggest that the Ukrainian troops will take part in rebuilding Iraq after Saddam Hussein's regime is overthrown.