Poland summons US envoy over diplomat's remarks

WARSAW, Nov 7 (Reuters) Poland summoned the US ambassador today to complain about a senior American diplomat's suggestion that a cabinet member critical of the war in Iraq could be dismissed.

A leaked government memo quoted the deputy chief of the US mission in Warsaw telling Polish officials that, in another country, deputy prime minister Roman Giertych could lose his job if he opposed his government's line.

Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said the comments and their publication were ''very unfortunate'' and foreign powers had no business interfering in Polish government matters.

''These remarks do not conform with what should be the norm in relations between the two countries and therefore the ambassador has been summoned and we will present our position in this case,'' Kaczynski told a news briefing.

''In no circumstances will any outsider interfere in the Polish government's line-up.'' Giertych, whose party has opposed deployment of Polish troops in Iraq, last month called for a parliamentary debate on civilian casualties there.

The proposal and his comments on Iraq worried Washington, according to US deputy chief of mission Kenneth Hillas who was cited in the leaked document.

''He pointed out that if a deputy prime minister, for example in Germany, France or Denmark made such comments, he would be dismissed,'' a Polish official, who met Hillas, wrote in the memo, according to excerpts published by the PAP news agency.

The US embassy said there was no question of demanding a resignation and it would not comment further on what was meant to remain a confidential conversation.

Poland has stood firm alongside the US under the previous leftist government and the current conservative-led coalition, despite public opposition to its involvement.

Kaczynski's Law and Justice conservatives are at odds with Giertych's nationalists and left-wing allies, who are critical of the decision to extend Warsaw's mission in Iraq and to increase Poland's military contingent in Afghanistan.

However, both the conservatives and mainstream media rushed to Giertych's defence after the memo was leaked.

Reuters AKJ GC2121