Poland has asked NATO for help in filling out the 10,000-soldier security force it pledged to patrol parts of postwar Iraq, Germany's defense minister confirmed to reporters during an EU Defense Ministers meeting Monday.

Warsaw had said it was prepared to take over duties from British and American troops in one of three military sectors in Iraq but lacked the troops for the job. The Polish government has reportedly sent a letter to NATO headquarters in Brussels asking for help. Poland can only supply 2,000 of the 10,000 troops needed for the reconstruction mission.

Italy, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and the Ukraine have already agreed to supply troops for the stability force which could be sent to the Gulf at short notice. Still unclear is exactly who will provide the force its mandate.

NATO chiefs have said in the past they agree in principal to discuss the issue. The United Nations has not yet begun discussing the possibility publicly.

German involvement unclear

Germany has maintiained that it will need a U.N. mandate before sending troops to postwar Iraq. German Defense Minister Peter Struck bristled earlier this month when informed Poland wanted to make use of NATO brigade comprising Danish, German and Polish troops for their postwar Iraq duties.

"I find it remarkable that Poland and other countries are ready to take responsibility in Iraq. These countries know that for Germany, any engagement in Iraq is tied to U.N. involvement. This is unforeseen as yet and, as such, it's not something we have to consider," Struck told reporters.

After talks described as "candid" with U.S. Defense Secretary Colin Powell last Friday, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said he was still hopeful for U.N. involvement in postwar Iraq. The two, however, said they had not discussed the possibility of using NATO troops in securing the war-torn country.