The Polish government Wednesday asked President Aleksander Kwasniewski to agree an extension of service shifts of Polish troops based in Iraq.  

Poland took over security responsibilities for a region in the south of Iraq in September and sent about 2,400 soldiers to the region.

Polish Officials had assured the troops that they would change shifts every six months. But a shortage of adequate backup troops in Poland created suspicions that this term of duty might have to be extended.

Following a government meeting on Wednesday, Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said that Poland's troops in Iraq are facing more and more security risks while security in areas under Polish control is deteriorating.

The Defense Ministry is to re-equip its Iraq-based troops with more arms including four Mi-24 fighter planes and long-range weapons, he added.

Poland has strongly supported the US-British invasion of Iraq and has the fourth largest military contingent in the country after the United States, Britain and Italy.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2003)