WITH a huge portrait of Pope John Paul II as a backdrop, about 200,000 people turned out for a farewell Mass for the Polish-born pontiff, gathering yesterday at the square where he once rallied the nation to fight communist rule.

Improving transatlantic ties between Europe and the US was a key issue for many leaders today whomever US voters send to the White House.

Veterans of the Warsaw Uprising laid wreaths and sang patriotic songs today as commemorations peaked with a visit by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a high-profile mission to atone for the Nazis’ brutal crushing of the revolt that began exactly 60 years ago.

Beleaguered Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller announced tonight that he will resign on May 2 – the day after the country joins the European Union.

US forces arrested eight rebel suspects in a stronghold of US resistance north-west of Baghdad, the military said yesterday.

President Aleksander Kwasniewski told cheering supporters today that Poland has fulfilled its aspirations to return to Europe, after exit polls showed an overwhelming 82% voting ’yes’ to EU membership.

The pope arrived in Poland today on the ninth visit to his homeland, returning to the places that nurtured his faith for a pilgrimage the faithful hope will invigorate the ailing pontiff.

It is known among Polish ambulance crews as ‘‘skin hunting’’ - the practice of taking bribes from funeral homes in exchange for steering corpses their way.