Poles bid farewell to troops

WARSAW (Reuter) - The last Soviet combat troops are to leave Poland this week, ending a presence of 40 years. More than 40,000 men have already been evacuated, leaving behind 6,000 non-combat soldiers from communications and transport units.

Under a withdrawal pact, they will stay until the end of 1993 to assist the evacuation of the 150,000-strong Russian garrison in eastern Germany through Polish territory.

A lone torpedo boat in the northern port of Swinoujscie, once home to a whole Soviet fleet, will depart today.