The co-leader of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party and its candidate in the October 9 Presidential race said he saw Poland's alliance with the United States as the cornerstone of security for the country.

"We are ready to discuss with the United States the issue of Iraq," Kaczyński told a meeting with foreign diplomats. "We want to be loyal allies."

Kaczyński emphasized, however, that Poland should expect something in return. "We would be interested in broader cooperation in modernizing our army," he said.

The outgoing leftist government backed the American invasion of Iraq and contributed a sizeable initial contingent of 2,500 troops to the US-led coalition there.

But with the overwhelming majority of Poles opposing Poland's presence in Iraq and general and presidential elections approaching, the leftists told Washington this summer that the remaining 1,700 troops would pull out by the end of this year.

Kaczyński and his party are in second place in recent opinion polls ahead of both elections behind the center-right Civic Platform (PO) and its leader Donald Tusk.

Tusk recently signaled he was in favor of pulling Polish troops out of Iraq although he was not specific on the timing.

The two parties are set to form the next coalition government after Sunday's parliamentary elections. (Reuters)