Polish forces had made an "error of interpretation" when they said they had found French missiles in Iraq manufactured this year, Chief of Staff General Czeslaw Piatas said.

The Polish defence ministry said Saturday that a Polish patrol had found the anti-aircraft missiles south of Baghdad.

"The official statement, unauthorised, was released prematurely, while checks were still being carried out," Piatas said.

"There will be consequences," he added, without elaborating.

The initial claim led to a denial by French President Jacques Chirac and later a statement of regret by Polish Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski.

Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller told Polish television late Saturday that he had met Chirac during a summit of European leaders in Rome and that the matter was closed.

SPACE.WIRE