Poland will keep its soldiers in Iraq at least through the end of the year, when the U.N. mandate for foreign troops expires, the country's defense minister said Friday.
Leaders in Poland, which commands a 6,000-strong multinational force in Iraq, have expressed hope that Iraq's Jan. 30 elections will pave the way for an eventual withdrawal of foreign troops. But Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said that Poland's previous commitment remains in force.
Poland has more than 2,400 troops in the multinational force, which is based in central Iraq south of Baghdad. It is reducing its presence to 1,700 troops this month.
Sixteen Polish soldiers have died in Iraq.
Poland is one of more than 25 countries with troops in Iraq. Since the war began in March 2003, nine countries have withdrawn their forces from the coalition.
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