Polish troops to stay in Iraq to end-2007

WARSAW, Dec 19 (Reuters) Polish troops will extend their mission in Iraq until the end of 2007, a year longer than their existing mandate, but could come home sooner if security in Iraq improves, the government today said.

The government's decision needs to be approved by Polish President Lech Kaczynski, but should be a formality, since Kaczynski is close to the ruling party, headed by his twin brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

''The government has asked the President to extend the stay of the Polish contingent in the stabilisation forces in Iraq,'' the government said in a statement. ''Earlier withdrawal will be possible if the internal security in Iraq allows.'' The statement did not say what security changes had to take place before Poland's soldiers could return home.

The statement said 1,200 soldiers and other military personnel would take part in the Iraq mission between now and December 2007, with 900 on active duty and 300 in reserve.

The decision coincides with a major US rethink on Iraq, amid growing public opposition to the continuing presence of American forces as chaos and casualties mount.

The high-profile bipartisan Iraq Study Group said two weeks ago that all US combat brigades not needed for force protection could quit Iraq by early 2008, leaving security to Iraqi forces.

Opinion polls show most Poles oppose military involvement in Iraq. But public hostility to the deployment has been muted and most of the major political parties support the government's position.

An ally of the United States, Poland has taken on military responsibilities in Lebanon in recent months and also promised to increase its deployment in Afghanistan, where it has 200 soldiers, by 1,000 troops early next year.

REUTERS SY BD2116