The news agency quoted a presidential statement as saying that Ukraine hopes civilian casualties in the war would be kept at a minimum level.

Kuchma said his country always opposes military solutions to all kinds of conflicts in the world, adding that it will not take part in the US-led war against Iraq.

If nuclear or biochemical weapons were used, Ukraine would provide assistance to civilians in the war zone, the president said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry expressed regret over theUN Security Council's failure to resolve the Iraq crisis through political and diplomatic means.

The ministry appealed in a statement for the lowest level of civilian casualties.

The statement said Ukraine's stance is that a stable Middle East must be safeguarded while international laws concerning humanitarianism must not be violated.

It said Iraq's territorial integrity must be upheld, and that Ukraine will make its contributions to the restoration of peace and stability in Iraq.

On Thursday morning, about 2,000 Ukrainians took part in a protest outside the parliament building against the US attack on Iraq.

The demonstrators chanted anti-war slogans and marched to the Iraqi Embassy to express support to the Gulf country.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)