ANSHERSON JIMENEZ

Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski died this morning in a plane crash in Russia. He was on his way to the town of Smolensk to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre. This was the killing of 22,000 Polish officers by Soviet security forces near Smolensk during WWII. Dozens of other high-profile Polish officials also died in the air disaster, which no one survived. Among the 96 who lost their lives were Poland’s army chief, the governor of Poland’s central bank, politicians, bishops and leading historians. Details are emerging of the cause of the crash. Safety officials believe it might have been due to human error. The plane hit trees in thick fog as it approached the airport’s runway.

The crash has caused great anguish in Poland. One comment on Twitter by a Polish woman said it was the biggest disaster for Poland in the past 50 years. Another tweeter said Poland is now facing its worst political crisis since it escaped from communism in 1989. Two dozen of the country’s top politicians were on board the plane. The BBC's Adam Easton, reporting from Warsaw, said the crash was a catastrophe for the Polish people. He reported that Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk was in tears at the news of the tragedy. British leader Gordon Brown said the whole world was “saddened”. The country must now announce a presidential election in the next two weeks. The poll will take place within two months of the announcement.