This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8627857.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 16 Version 17
Polish president buried in state Polish president buried in state
(9 minutes later)
The state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria has been held in Krakow, with thousands gathered in the city to pay respects.The state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria has been held in Krakow, with thousands gathered in the city to pay respects.
A funeral Mass was held in St Mary's Basilica and a procession later took the coffins to be buried in a crypt of the historic Wawel Cathedral.A funeral Mass was held in St Mary's Basilica and a procession later took the coffins to be buried in a crypt of the historic Wawel Cathedral.
Many world leaders could not attend due to volcanic ash grounding flights.Many world leaders could not attend due to volcanic ash grounding flights.
Poland's first couple and 94 others died eight days ago when their plane crashed in fog as they flew to Russia.Poland's first couple and 94 others died eight days ago when their plane crashed in fog as they flew to Russia.
21-gun salute21-gun salute
In remarks at the funeral Mass, Krakow's Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz said the international fellow feeling in the wake of the deaths had shown "many layers of good between the people and nations".In remarks at the funeral Mass, Krakow's Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz said the international fellow feeling in the wake of the deaths had shown "many layers of good between the people and nations".
AT THE SCENE Oana Lungescu, Krakow AT THE SCENE Adam Easton, BBC News, Krakow
Bells tolled in bright spring sunshine, as the two hearses carrying the coffins of Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria Kaczynska slowly drove to the gothic Basilica of Saint Mary, where the funeral Mass will take place. The president and his wife were buried together in a honey-coloured alabaster sarcophagus in the crypt of the Wawel cathedral. It was inscribed with their names and a cross. Earlier world leaders attended a moving and solemn funeral at the nearby St Mary's Basilica.
Along the way, crowds threw flowers and waved Polish flags. People have come in buses, trains and cars from across the country, some camping since one o'clock in the morning in Krakow's medieval market square. class="" href="/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8625509.stm">Drawing strength from tragic past Outside on the medieval market square and beyond 150,000 people watched the service on specially erected TV screens. As the funeral procession began its way to Wawel cathedral many chanted: "Lech Kaczynski, we thank you, and we're with you".
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev defied the air restrictions to fly to Krakow.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev defied the air restrictions to fly to Krakow.
Archbishop Dziwisz said he was addressing Mr Medvedev personally in stating: "The sympathy and help we have received from Russian brothers has breathed new life into a hope for closer relations and reconciliation between our two Slavic nations."Archbishop Dziwisz said he was addressing Mr Medvedev personally in stating: "The sympathy and help we have received from Russian brothers has breathed new life into a hope for closer relations and reconciliation between our two Slavic nations."
The coffins were then taken in a gun-carriage procession through Krakow and on to the walled castle and cathedral at Wawel for a 21-gun salute and the burial.The coffins were then taken in a gun-carriage procession through Krakow and on to the walled castle and cathedral at Wawel for a 21-gun salute and the burial.
Thousands lined the streets, waving flags, applauding and chanting: "Lech Kaczynski! We thank you!"Thousands lined the streets, waving flags, applauding and chanting: "Lech Kaczynski! We thank you!"
The Krakow ceremonies were for family, friends and international dignitaries but were shown on screens across the city.The Krakow ceremonies were for family, friends and international dignitaries but were shown on screens across the city.
Among those unable to attend the funeral are US President Barack Obama, the UK's Prince of Wales, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.Among those unable to attend the funeral are US President Barack Obama, the UK's Prince of Wales, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Those mourners on the streets of Krakow said it was right for the funeral to take place on Sunday, despite cancellations by so many world leaders.Those mourners on the streets of Krakow said it was right for the funeral to take place on Sunday, despite cancellations by so many world leaders.
POLISH FUNERAL SERVICE Not attending: US President Barack Obama; French President Nicolas Sarkozy; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; the UK's Prince of Wales and Foreign Secretary David Miliband; Spanish King Juan Carlos and PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero; Turkish President Abdullah Gul; Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt; Finnish President Tarja Halonen; South Korean PM Chung Un-chan; Canadian PM Stephen Harper; Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar GrimssonAttending: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev; Czech President Vaclav Klaus; Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic; Slovenian President Danilo Turk; Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych; Latvian President Valdis Zatlers; Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Andrus Ansip; Romanian President Traian Basescu; Hungarian President Lazslo Solyom and PM Gordon BajnaiPOLISH FUNERAL SERVICE Not attending: US President Barack Obama; French President Nicolas Sarkozy; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; the UK's Prince of Wales and Foreign Secretary David Miliband; Spanish King Juan Carlos and PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero; Turkish President Abdullah Gul; Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt; Finnish President Tarja Halonen; South Korean PM Chung Un-chan; Canadian PM Stephen Harper; Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar GrimssonAttending: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev; Czech President Vaclav Klaus; Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic; Slovenian President Danilo Turk; Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych; Latvian President Valdis Zatlers; Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Andrus Ansip; Romanian President Traian Basescu; Hungarian President Lazslo Solyom and PM Gordon Bajnai
One mourner, Bartek Kargol, told Associated Press: "I wouldn't move the funeral. This event is for our president."One mourner, Bartek Kargol, told Associated Press: "I wouldn't move the funeral. This event is for our president."
Maria Kurowska, mayor of the town of Jaslo, told Agence France-Presse news agency that her town had paid for three coaches to bring mourners to Krakow.Maria Kurowska, mayor of the town of Jaslo, told Agence France-Presse news agency that her town had paid for three coaches to bring mourners to Krakow.
"It's an exceptional moment. Poles have to be here," she said."It's an exceptional moment. Poles have to be here," she said.
Earlier, the coffins had been driven through Warsaw on a route that took in key locations of Lech Kaczynski's life, such as city hall, where he served as the capital's mayor.Earlier, the coffins had been driven through Warsaw on a route that took in key locations of Lech Kaczynski's life, such as city hall, where he served as the capital's mayor.
The coffins were then taken from Warsaw to Krakow on a military transport plane that flew below the volcanic ash cloud.The coffins were then taken from Warsaw to Krakow on a military transport plane that flew below the volcanic ash cloud.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people had attended an open-air memorial service in the centre of Warsaw.On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people had attended an open-air memorial service in the centre of Warsaw.
The couple's final resting place is in a sarcophagus in the royal crypt in Wawel cathedral, next to Poland's revered independence leader, Jozef Pilsudski.The couple's final resting place is in a sarcophagus in the royal crypt in Wawel cathedral, next to Poland's revered independence leader, Jozef Pilsudski.
The decision to entomb a leader seen as divisive by many during his lifetime in such a hallowed place has drawn some protests.The decision to entomb a leader seen as divisive by many during his lifetime in such a hallowed place has drawn some protests.
The Polish government airliner crashed in western Russia on 10 April.The Polish government airliner crashed in western Russia on 10 April.
Investigators believe pilot error caused the plane to hit tree-tops in heavy fog in the Smolensk region, where the Polish delegation had meant to attend a memorial for about 22,000 Poles massacred by Stalin's secret police at Katyn in World War II.Investigators believe pilot error caused the plane to hit tree-tops in heavy fog in the Smolensk region, where the Polish delegation had meant to attend a memorial for about 22,000 Poles massacred by Stalin's secret police at Katyn in World War II.
Key Polish political and military leaders were killed in the air crash, including the heads of all three branches of Poland's military.Key Polish political and military leaders were killed in the air crash, including the heads of all three branches of Poland's military.


Are you in Krakow? Will you be watching the state funeral? Tell us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Krakow? Will you be watching the state funeral? Tell us your experiences using the form below.
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here.You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions