Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has held a series of contacts with some Latin American countries on the pullout of Spanish troops from Iraq, Spanish media reported Monday,

Rodriguez Zapatero had discussed the withdrawal plan with leaders of the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras, which contributed troops to the Spanish-led Plus Ultra Brigade in Iraq, said the reports.

The reports quoted Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Morantinos as saying those contacts were "multiple, discrete and intense."

The newly-elected Rodriguez Zapatero announced Sunday that Spain's troops would leave Iraq "as soon as possible" after it appeared likely that his government's condition for the troops' stay, namely UN control of Iraq, would not be fulfilled.

Spain's Defense Minister Jose Bono said at the same time in Madrid that the pullout was already under way however.

Morantinos was quoted as saying Spain was adhering to a troops withdrawal from Iraq, but hoped that such a move would not harm the Spanish-US traditional relationship.

Rodriguez Zapatero also had a telephone conversation with US President George Bush to discuss the withdrawal on Monday in a "cordial and constructive" environment, the minister was quoted as saying.