Polish Minister Of Defense Resigns

WARSAW, POLAND — Polish Defense Minister Radek Sikorski, who has strong ties to America, has resigned after the country's prime minister expressed "reservations" about his work, a government spokesman said yesterday.

Mr. Sikorski's departure deprives Prime Minister Kaczynski's weak government of an internationally respected figure, just as Warsaw begins negotiations with Washington over whether to host a missile defense base.

Poland also is in the process of building up its contingent in Afghanistan to about 1,000 from 100, and it is a strong American ally in Iraq. Government spokesman Jan Dziedziczak said Mr. Sikorski had resigned after the prime minister said he had "reservations" about Mr. Sikorski's work.