The Ukrainian parliament called on Tuesday for the withdrawal of the country's contingent of troops from Iraq as soon as possible.

During a live television broadcast, the parliament urged President Leonid Kuchma to issue a decree to bring the country's troops home from Iraq.

On Monday, Kuchma ordered the officials to draw up plans to withdraw the country's peacekeepers from Iraq in the first half of2005 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.

Ukraine is the fourth-largest contributor of troops to the US-led coalition, with a 1,650-strong contingent serving under Polishcommand in southern Iraq.