WARSAW, April 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Smajdzinski said on Tuesday that Poland will withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of 2005, when the mandate of the UN multinational stabilization forces in the country expires. 

    Speaking at a news conference after a cabinet meeting, Smajdzinski said" At the time of the expiry of the (UN) Security Council's mandate, the operation of the Polish stabilization mission should be finished."

    The defense minister said that it would take "a few weeks'' for all the troops and equipment to return to Poland at that time.

    Poland leads a multinational stabilization force in central Iraq where it deploys about 1,700 troops. Enditem