Poland to pull troops from Iraq

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Poland plans to withdraw its 900 troops from Iraq by the end of October 2008.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski Friday approved his government's plan to withdraw the troops, a promise made by new Prime Minster Donald Tusk in his inaugural speech last month, the Russian Information Agency Novosti reported Saturday.

Kaczynski, a strong supporter of the United States, had resisted withdrawing troops from Iraq and until the last election had the support of a Polish government led by his twin brother, ex-premier Jarolslaw Kaczynski.

Poland has had troops in Iraq since the beginning of the war in 2003. In all, 25 Polish soldiers have been killed in Iraq, RIA Novosti reported.