Slovakia to pull troops from Iraq in February

BRATISLAVA, Oct 18 (Reuters) The Slovak government agreed today to pull its soldiers from Iraq in February, joining several other European Union nations that have withdrawn troops from the country following a government change.

Slovakia was a staunch supporter of the US-led military campaign in Iraq under the centre-right government of Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda.

He lost power in a June election and the new leftist administration of Prime Minister Robert Fico has long opposed Slovakia's presence in Iraq. Fico campaigned hard in the election on a pledge to bring troops home as soon as possible.

Slovakia has 110 army engineers and security personnel in Iraq.

''Slovak soldiers can start packing their stuff, because they have to be home in February 2007,'' Fico told journalists after a regular government meeting. ''With this, the government is fulfilling its promise.'' Fico had originally pledged to withdraw the soldiers immediately after he took power, but subsequently allowed the engineers to serve one more six-month term.

Slovakia will leave 11 personnel in Iraq, mainly serving as instructors in a NATO training mission.

REUTERS AB BST2021