WARSAW, Nov. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Poland is shooting for winning contracts of military equipment for the new Iraqi army, a top Polish Defense Ministry official said on Monday.

    The bill for military equipment for Iraq's new army will be funded by the United States and is valued at several hundred million US dollars, Janusz Zemke, vice minister of national defense, told Polish radio.

    Poland's stand is that contributions made by countries participating in the stabilizing efforts in Iraq should be taken into consideration in distributing these military equipment contracts, and Poland will take "political moves" to try to win the contracts, Zemke said.

    Polish weapons manufacturers will seek financial guarantees from foreign banks to help fund production of the armaments because Polish banks cannot provide enough loans for the manufacturers, Zemke added.

    Poland is leading a multinational stabilization force in central Iraq. Enditem