Lepper proposes sending Polish forces to Iraq

Andrzej Lepper yesterday proposed sending Polish soldiers to Iraq as part of the UN peacekeeping force to safeguard the troubled region. Lepper's Self-Defense party (Samoobrona) has filed an official motion with the speaker of the Sejm and the Sejm Commission for Foreign Affairs will look into the document tomorrow. In a public radio interview, Lepper said "UN peacekeeping forces, including Polish troops, would be stationed in Iraq in order to protect UN inspectors and prevent any provocation, shenanigans or blocking of access to facilities and documents on the part of Saddam Hussein and his staff". Lepper said he believed in other MPs' common sense, but was afraid all the effort might be in vain due to political games by the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and Polish Peasants Party (PSL) envious of Samoobrona's bright idea. (www.polskieradio.pl) J.K.