Seven Ukrainian peacekeepers were wounded when militants attacked their patrol in southern Iraq (news - web sites), the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Two armored personnel carriers with 17 Ukrainian peacekeepers were ambushed Tuesday night near As Suwayrah, northwest of their base at Kut in southern Iraq, said Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Kostiantyn Khivrenko. Three mines exploded under the vehicles, and militants then opened fire.

Khivrenko said that the wounded soldiers' condition was stable. Five of them were hospitalized in Baghdad, and the two others suffered only slight injuries.

A Ukrainian peacekeeper died earlier this month when the vehicle he was riding in turned over.

Some 1,650 Ukrainian troops are serving in the Polish-led stabilization force patrolling southern Iraq.

Close

Today's Top News		Top International News
+Wu visits Pyongyang, nuke headway in sight ( 2003-10-29) +NPC approves road traffic, securities laws ( 2003-10-29) +Wen meets Evans, trade balance highlighted ( 2003-10-29) +2004 gains to be offset by rebate ( 2003-10-29) +Inner dike breaches blocked in Lankao ( 2003-10-29)		+7 Ukrainian peacekeepers wounded in Iraq ( 2003-10-29) +Israelis may put pigs on guard duty ( 2003-10-29) +Malaysia's Mahathir hosts his final Cabinet meeting before retiring after 22 years ( 2003-10-29) +US to recruit more Iraqis to help ( 2003-10-29) +Commentary: The White House whine 'It's all the media's fault' ( 2003-10-29)