Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


World Leaders React to Polish President's Death

   VOA News 10 April 2010

Photo: AP

   In  this March 15, 2010 file photo Polish President Lech Kaczynski and
   wife Maria are seen in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw

   World  leaders  are  reacting  with  sadness  to  the  death of Polish
   President   Lech  Kaczynski,  whose  plane  crashed  in  Russia  early
   Saturday.
   U.S. President Barack Obama called the accident a devastating loss for
   Poland,  the  U.S.  and  the  world. He said he contacted Polish Prime
   Minister Donald Tusk to express his deepest condolences.
   British  Prime  minister Gordon Brown said he was saddened by the news
   of  the accident and that the whole world will be saddened by it also.
   He  said  he knew the sacrifices Mr. Kaczynski made on the part of the
   Solidarity movement in Poland and for Polish freedom.
   French  President  Nicolas  Sarkozy  called  Mr.  Kaczynski a tireless
   defender  of  democracy  and liberty and a leader in the fight against
   totalitarianism.
   German  Chancellor  Angela  Merkel  expressed  her  deep dismay at the
   Polish president's death as well as all those on board.

   Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called Mr. Kaczynski one of his
   closest  friends.  He  called  him  a  hero, not only in Poland but in
   Georgia as well.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

.