Poland's Defence Minister Aleksander Szczygło has called "cynical" accusations that the ministry had attempted to conceal an incident in Afghanistan, when Polish troops shot dead 5 civillians, caught in an exchange of fire between a group on patrol and Taliban rebels.
Two former defence ministers and opposition deputies called for an independent parliamentary investigation of the incident and criticised the week-long delay in informing the public.
Minister Szczygło said that the sad incident had been reported "as soon as possible and according to ISAF procedures". He also said that politicians had descended "like vultures" on the army which had just suffered its first casualty of the mission.
On August 14th a Polish lieutenant was killed in Afghanistan. The Polish Defence Minister also informed today that Polish soldiers would join a proposed EU mission in Chad to protect refugees on the borderground with Darfur.
2010, Domains
