Warsaw, March 11, SPA -- Poland plans to withdraw severalhundred of its 1,700 soldiers from Iraq in July, thedefense minister said in an interview published Friday. "I can only say that we assume a reduction of the Polishcontingent by several hundred troops," Szmajdzinski toldthe Rzeczpospolita daily when asked whether Poland wouldreduce its troop level with its next regular rotation,scheduled for July. The cutback will also involve handing over authority forWasit province, now patrolled largely by Ukrainiansoldiers, to Iraqis.--SPA1304 Local Time 1004 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/245759