Polish president promises modernisation

POLAND'S Europe-friendly and pro-business new president was sworn yesterday in a ceremony overshadowed by the plane crash that killed his predecessor.

Bronislaw Komorowski's inauguration before Poland's parliament came after a moment of silence for Lech Kaczynski and the 95 other people killed in the crash near Smolensk, Russia, on 10 April.

Several politicians were killed in the crash. Their seats were empty during the ceremony, with photographs of them and flowers in their places.

Mr Komorowski pledged to work to help modernise Poland, promoting scientific research and working to improve the creaky state health system. He said his first official trips abroad would be to Brussels, Paris and Berlin.

He pledged to maintain rapprochement with Russia, the huge eastern neighbour with which post-communist Poland's relations have sometimes been tense