Free Republic -- Another Polish soldier serving in Iraq has been killed when a military vehicle on its way between two allied bases hit a booby trap. This is the 19th to be killed in action, as the country struggles to maintain stability with the assistance of US-led forces, in which Poland has been taking an active part.

A Polish convoy driving from the Scania military base in Nippur to the Echo base in ad Diwaniya was attacked. One of the vehicles, a Hummer with four Polish men inside was destroyed when it hit a booby trap laid by what was described as a well-equipped group of attackers. One Polish soldier was killed in the explosion, as Marek Zieli_ski, the spokesman for the Central South Multinational Division in Iraq explains.

‘One of the soldiers, 23-year-old private Piotr Nita, was killed on the spot. The attack took place about 21 kilometers North of ad Diwaniya, where the Echo military base is situated, and where the soldiers are stationed. Three other men were wounded in the blast. They received minor skin burns, abrasions and there is also a shrapnel wound of a right lower leg.’

Initially Poland intended to pull out its troops from Iraq before the end of last year, but the stay of the Polish contingent was extended for the troops to – as it was put – complete their mission along the Americans and to fulfill their obligations. Artur Go_awski is a military analyst with the Polska Zbrojna defence magazine.

‘Before the end of this year we will withdraw our contingent out of Iraq due to various reasons. One of them could be that we fulfilled our declaration towards Americans that we will keep contingent untill we secure the proper training of Iraqi troops that operate there. At this moment we assist Iraqis with command and control and some intelligence, some reconnaissance, capabilities. If conditions are difficult we assist them with other back-bone elements or backup force during their own operations. We don't conduct our own military operations.’