Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk presents his government's program to parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, Friday, Nov. 23, 2007.Tusk said Friday that his government will withdraw all 900 Polish troops from Iraq next year, but will continue its peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WARSAW, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday that his government will withdraw all 900 Polish troops from Iraq next year, but will continue its peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.

    "In a year's time, I will tell you here in parliament that our military mission in Iraq is over," Tusk told lawmakers in his first policy speech to parliament.

    "We have taken the decision -- as far as the government powers go -- to make 2008 the year when the pullout of Poland's military mission is started and completed," said the liberal Tusk, who won Poland's snap elections last month.

    The exact dates for the withdrawal and other details would be consulted with allies, especially the United States, he added.

    By next year, Poland will have done more than what its allies, especially the United States, had expected from the country, he said.

    Poland backed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and leads the international contingent in the south-central region.

    Referring to the country's mission in Afghanistan, Tusk said Poland would keep its 1,200 troops in Afghanistan next year.

    "The Polish mission in Afghanistan testifies to our credibility in NATO, which is the main pillar and a guarantee of Poland's safety," the prime minister said.

    Tusk also said his government respected Poland's earlier announcement to send 350 soldiers with the European Union mission to Chad.

    In the parliamentary elections on Oct. 21, the largest opposition party Civic Platform (PO) beat the ruling Law and Justice party, obtaining 209 seats in the parliament's lower house.

    A new cabinet headed by Tusk, leader of Civic Platform, was sworn in last Friday.