WARSAW, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Lech Kaczynski has signed a decision prolonging the stay of Polish forces in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said on Wednesday.

    "As far as I know, the president has signed the decision. In view of this one of the provinces in Afghanistan will become a zone for which we will become responsible," Minister Klich told TVN 24 tv news channel.

    At present Polish soldiers are located in several military bases, but in the fall they are to move to one region. Unofficially Poles are to take over the responsibility for Ghanzi province.

    Recently the Polish government decided to increase the number of Polish soldiers from 1,200 to 1,600. Poland is also to send to Afghanistan its own helicopters.