Gość: kasia
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05.08.03, 23:17
Polish force heads for Iraq
Polish troops will form the core of the force
The main contingent of Polish troops has begun its deployment to Iraq as
Poland prepares to take up command of a security zone in the south of the
country, at the beginning of September.
Around 2,000 Polish troops are expected to arrive in Iraq and form the core
of a 9,000-strong force, drawn from 22 countries.
Around 250 Polish command staff are already in Iraq.
The main part of the force will acclimatize in Kuwait before moving across
the border.
The United States chose Poland to lead the sector in the south-central part
of Iraq in recognition of its support during the recent war.
"Poland is ideal for this task because the Polish Army officers are
experienced in missions of peacekeeping character," said a US Marines'
statement in Baghdad.
More than 100 Latvian soldiers also left Poland for Iraq on Tuesday.
Multi-national force
The Polish force will include 3,200 Dutch troops, 2,500 Poles, 1,644
Ukrainians, 1,321 Spanish soldiers, 1,130 Italians and 886 Thais, the
statement said.
Other nations are playing a smaller part, including Bulgaria, Hungary, El
Salvador, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Romania, Mongolia, Latvia, Slovenia,
Lithuania, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and Nicaragua.
The force's support staff will include officers from the United States,
Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.
