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KATASTROFA SAMOLOTU POLSKIEGO PREZYDENTA !! 10.04.10 ROKU !! NIECH SPOCZYWAJĄ W SPOKOJU !!! ZGNEŁO 88 OSÓB !!

Information in ENGLISH FROM THE TIMES


Poland is reeling in the wake of a plane crash which killed the country’s president, first lady and key governmental officials.

President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria and Poland’s central bank governor and army chief, were on board a plane which crashed near Smolensk, Russia, on Saturday morning, killing all 96 passengers.

Earlier statements by Russia’s top investigative body, Sergei Markin, that 132 people had been killed in the crash proved to be unfounded.

Preliminary reports suggest the Tupolov U-154M collided with trees after its pilots ignored warnings not to land in foggy conditions.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was the “most tragic event in Poland’s postwar history”.

Later today he will visit the crash scene and has announced that a two-minute silence will be observed in Poland at noon tomorrow, followed by a week of national mourning.

Some political commentators believe the tragedy could have far-reaching implications for the former eastern-block country.

Jacek Wasilewski, professor at the Higher School of Social Psychology in Warsaw said: “The political consequences will be long-term and possibly will change the entire future landscape of Polish politics.”

In accordance with the Polish constitution, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, who was set to run against Kaczynski in this autumn’s election, has become acting president.

A presidential election to find a permanent successor must now be held before June 20.

Kaczynski, a former activist and mayor of Warsaw, was a controversial figure and is credited with playing a pivotal role in re-shaping the country after the fall of communism.

The chief of Poland’s military Franciszek Gagor, Slawomir Skrzypek, who had been central bank governor since 2007, and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer were also among the dead.