POLAND: The Polish foreign minister has denied that Poland plans to pull its troops out of Iraq but said the situation of the country's 2,500 troops is under review.
"We would like to reduce personnel at the end of the year believing that the process in Iraq will let us," said Mr Wlodzimierz Cimoszewic. He declined to say whether the withdrawal is dependent on an improvement in the situation in Iraq or whether it would happen regardless.
President Aleksander Kwasniewski, whose decision it would be to recall troops, declined to take questions on the Iraq issue. His spokesman said: "We are still in Iraq and are waiting for the decision of the UN. We are now thinking about next year. It was the plan to reduce troops next year and we would hope that any gap in troops would be filled by Iraqi soldiers."
The spokesman added that "Poland was not at all influenced by Spain" in its decision to withdraw troops.
Prime Minister Mr Leszek Miller caused speculation on a pull-out earlier when he said: "We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that Spain and others are leaving. I cannot say when we will leave \, but I'm sure the new prime minister will say something more precise," he added.
He said his successor, Mr Marek Belka, would map out a strategy for the troops in his first policy speech next month.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said yesterday Italian troops would stay in Iraq after June 30th, when the US plans to hand over running the country to civilian authorities.
"We have to stay after June 30th. If not, the situation could turn into something like we saw in Kosovo," he said in Lipetsk, south of Moscow, after talks with President Vladimir Putin.
"I think that it is necessary to stay," Mr Berlusconi, a devoted ally of President Bush, added to reporters.
Mr Berlusconi also said yesterday there had been a delay in the release of three Italian civilians being held hostage in Iraq but saw no fresh problems over the issue.
"There has been a delay but we are not aware that there is any obstacle," Mr Berlusconi said. He said no money had been paid for their release. One of the hostages was killed last week. - (Additional reporting: Reuters)