Poland will decide later in December whether to extend its military mission in Iraq beyond the planned January pullout date, said Polish Defence Minister Radek Sikorski after talks in Washington with US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday.

The US government is facing increasing pressure from its allies in the Iraq war, with Bulgaria and Ukraine beginning withdrawing their combined 1,250 troops this month and six others including Poland considering to bring their soldiers home.

The coalition now consists of 28 countries (there were 35 states in 2003). There are almost 184,000 soldiers, 160,000 of them from America. The following is basic information about other forces.

ALBANIA: 120 soldiers, mainly patrolling Mosul airport. No plans of withdrawal.

ARMENIA: 46 soldiers serving under Polish command. Withdrawal not planned.

AUSTRALIA: Around 900 soldiers. Australian commanders say they could withdraw 450 men from Musannah province in southern Iraq by June 2006.

AZERBAIJAN: 150 soldiers, mostly sentinels and patrolmen protecting a dam near the city of Hadid Hah. No withdrawal planned.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: 36 specialists used to discover and dispose of blind shells. Withdrawal not planned.

BULGARIA: Infantry battalion of 380 men belonging to Center-South Division; located in Echo base in Divaniyah. Returning home after December 15. Next year Bulgaria may send to Iraq 300 soldiers serving as guards.

CZECH REPUBLIC: 102 military policemen training Iraqi soldiers plus three doctors and three nurses in British military hospital. Czech parliament decided to prolong the mission to the end of 2006.

Denmark: 530 soldiers patrolling Basra, the biggest city in southern Iraq. The mission mandate will expire by July 1, 2006 but the government says troops will stay as long as necessary.

ESTONIA: 43 soldiers under American command in Bagdad; they manage checking points, patrol the city, look for hidden weapons and escort convoys. Estonian parliament prolonged the mission till the end of 2006.

GEORGIA: 898 soldiers commanded by the Americans in Baquba, 60 km north-east from Bagdad. Withdrawal not planned.

GREAT BRITAIN: The second biggest contributor to the coalition force in Iraq after America with 8,000 soldiers in the country; no official timetable of evacuation has been made, but unofficially London hopes to withdraw at least most of its soldiers next year.

ITALY: Around 2,800 soldiers, most of them in Nassiriyah, the capital of Zi Kar province in southern Iraq, 40 men in Basra and 30 in Bagdad. They train Iraqi army and police, build security and help in recovery. Italian government intends to start withdrawing troops step by step, 300 men at a time.

JAPAN: 600 soldiers in Samavah in southern Iraq, working on reconstruction. Their noncombat mission was planned to Dec. 14, but Japanese government prolonged it by one year. Prime Minister Jinichiro Koizumi added their stay there might be finished earlier if the situation improves to a satisfactory level.

KAZAKHSTAN: 27 soldiers commanded by Polish officers in the Center-South Division. They are responsible for disposal of mines and supplying local population with water. Withdrawal not planned.

NETHERLANDS: 19 officers, 15 of them training Iraqi police and army. 1,400 soldiers withdrew earlier this year.

LITHUANIA: 110 soldiers, mainly infantry. Mission prolonged by the end of 2006 but further stay of 50 men serving in Center-South Division depends on Polish decision: if the Poles go, Lithuanians will follow.

LATVIA: 135 soldiers, mainly infantry. Responsible for patrolling and convoy. Mission prolonged by Parliament by the end of 2006.

MACEDONIA: 32 soldiers protecting Tajih base north of Bagdad. Withdrawal not planned, Macedonia is ready to double its mission.

MOLDOVA: Presently has no soldier in Iraq. Ready to send 18 specialists to dispose of bombs.

MONGOLIA: 120 soldiers under Polish command. Withdrawal not planned.

NORWAY: officially not taking part in coalition although it keeps 16 liaison officers and instructors in Iraq. They will be sent home this month.

POLAND: Over 1,400 soldiers in Center-South Division. The fifth biggest national force (after US, Britain, South Korea and Italy).

ROMANIA: 863 soldiers, among them one infantry battalion, 150 engineers, 50 intelligence officers, medics and guards protecting UN offices. Withdrawal not planned.

SALVADOR: 380 soldiers in Hillah, belonging to Center-South Division. Withdrawal not planned in nearest time.

SLOVAKIA: 104 soldiers in Hillah, mainly engineers. Withdrawal not planned, next rotation in March.

SOUTH KOREA: 3,200 soldiers in northern Iraq helping to restore infrastructure. Parliament expected to withdraw 1,000 men this month and prolong the mission for another year.

UKRAINE: 876 soldiers expected to return home after Dec. 20. Next year Kiev intends to send to Iraq 50 army officers and border guards.