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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 23, 2001

Poland Offers Troops for U.S. Military Operation in Afghanistan

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski Thursday approved a proposal by the government of Prime Minister Leszek Miller to send a group of elite troops to the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan.


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Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski Thursday approved a proposal by the government of Prime Minister Leszek Miller to send a group of elite troops to the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan.

Poland's troop commitment followed an earlier request from the United States, the Polish news agency PAP reported.

The president said he agreed to contribute a contingent of Polish soldiers to the anti-terrorism coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan and the troops would be ready to set off before January 10.

The PAP reports said the contingent will be composed of 300 sappers, chemical and biological warfare experts and some logistics-supporting warships. It will carry out operations in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and in Indian and Arabian oceans.

Under Polish law, Kwasniewski said, the overseas operation will only last six months for the first period, which is expected to cost the country about 15 million U.S. dollars.

He said most of the troops would be volunteers from the professional army, and documents had to be signed to show that they were willing to take part in the operation.




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