Polish troops in Afghanistan another year

WARSAW, , 19 (UPI) — Polish President Lech Kaczynski has ordered 1,100 soldiers to stay in Afghanistan another year as part of NATO troops battling Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents.

The Polish Defense Ministry put the order into effect, formally extending the deployment of the contingent until Oct.31, 2008, Polish Radio reported Wednesday.

Under an earlier order, the Polish soldiers’ assignment was to expire in mid-October.

Early this month, the Defense Ministry replaced Poland’s contingent apparently in advance of the president’s order.