Poland will certainly pull its troops out of Iraq in 2006 but the deadline for the withdrawal might be put off from January to June, Polish Defense Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference, Sikorski said the security situation in Iraq's province overseen by Polish soldiers had improved and could be handed over to Iraqi forces.

"We will certainly withdraw from Iraq next year," said Sikorski, adding that his government will decide in December whether to extend the term of part of the Polish troops there by another six months.

Poland initially contributed a 2,500-troop force to Iraq. It had planned to withdraw the remaining 1,400 troops by the end of January.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2005)