First anniversary relives national pain of Polish air disaster

POLAND yesterday relived the deep pain that engulfed the nation a year ago with a day of prayers and other ceremonies marking the anniversary of the plane crash in Russia that killed President Lech Kaczynski and many other prominent civilian and military leaders.

But deep political and social divisions that have simmered since the crash were also on display, with protesters voicing anger at the Polish government and at Russia for an investigation they believe is marred, as well as other grievances.

Church bells rang out across Poland to mark the exact time a year ago that the plane crashed, killing all 96 people aboard. People filled churches and cemeteries and a large crowd waving Polish flags gathered in front of the presidential palace, where Kaczynski and his wife Maria lived before their deaths in the crash near Smolensk, Russia.