Help new democracies, Obama urges in Poland

US president Barack Obama is to ask Polish leaders to use the lessons they learned during the fall of communism to aid fledgling democratic movements in the Middle East and North Africa.

Obama arrived at Poland’s presidential palace today for a formal welcome ceremony, followed by a meeting with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski. In addition to the Arab uprising, the two leaders were also expected to discuss security issues, including the Afghan war, and clean energy.