Poland said on Monday the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq may speed the withdrawal of international forces from the country.

Speaking to private Radio Zet, Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said his country would assess soon when its troops in Iraq could be pulled out and brought home.

A staunch supporter of the United States on the Iraq war, Poland has some 2,400 troops in the central Diwaniyah region. Sixteen Polish soldiers have died in Iraq.

"These elections show we are dealing with the optimistic scenario. Most important now is how fast the Iraq security forces are equipped and trained so they can take over a bigger security role, and do it faster," the defense minister said.

"The government will define our outlook for the presence in Iraq at the end of February, beginning of March," he said.

Szmajdzinski said he expected the new Iraqi administration would assess in May or June whether, and in what capacity, it wants US-led international forces to remain in the country.

"The Iraqi government can decide at any moment that it regardsthe coalition's mandate as completed. None of the countries in Iraq want to be there longer than stabilisation requires," he said

Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka said on Jan. 5 his country will cut its troops in Iraq from 2,400 to 1,700 in several months.