Poland will pull out of Iraq by end of 2005

POLAND said it aims to withdraw all of its 2500 troops from Iraq during the course of next year, a major disappointment for Washington which sees Warsaw as one of its staunchest allies in Iraq.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Poland hoped “to finish our mission at the end of 2005.”

Poland is the fourth largest troop contributor to the US-led coalition in Iraq, but there is strong popular opposition at home to the deployment.

The Polish government had only said it would reduce its military presence in Iraq in 2005.

Analysts noted the centre-left government faces heavy domestic criticism over the Polish military presence in Iraq ahead of elections next year.

But a planned pullout by Poland will spark dismay in Washington, where US President George W Bush is under criticism over the occupation of Iraq as he seeks re-election next month.

In last week’s TV debate with Democratic challenger John Kerry, Bush specifically mentioned Poland.