This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27567079
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Poland's last Communist leader Wojciech Jaruzelski dies | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Poland's last Communist leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski has died aged 90 after a long illness, Polish media say. | Poland's last Communist leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski has died aged 90 after a long illness, Polish media say. |
| Gen Jaruzelski led Poland from 1981, when he declared martial law and ordered the arrest of the pro-democracy Solidarity leader Lech Walesa. | Gen Jaruzelski led Poland from 1981, when he declared martial law and ordered the arrest of the pro-democracy Solidarity leader Lech Walesa. |
| But he lifted martial law two years later and after growing unrest was forced to negotiate with Solidarity in 1989. | But he lifted martial law two years later and after growing unrest was forced to negotiate with Solidarity in 1989. |
| He had been in ill health for some time. | He had been in ill health for some time. |
| Gen Jaruzelski fought in a Polish unit of the Russian army during World War Two and rose up the military ranks after the war to become chief "political officer" of Poland's armed forces. | Gen Jaruzelski fought in a Polish unit of the Russian army during World War Two and rose up the military ranks after the war to become chief "political officer" of Poland's armed forces. |
| He was defence minister at the time of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, in which Polish soldiers took part. | He was defence minister at the time of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, in which Polish soldiers took part. |
| He denied ordering the fatal shooting of dozens of shipyard workers in the northern cities of Gdansk and Gdynia in 1971, for which he was later put on trial. | He denied ordering the fatal shooting of dozens of shipyard workers in the northern cities of Gdansk and Gdynia in 1971, for which he was later put on trial. |
| Gen Jaruzelski was also tried in 2008 by Poland's post-Communist authorities for his December 1981 decision to impose martial law. Tanks rolled on to the streets and thousands of opposition activists were arrested overnight. | Gen Jaruzelski was also tried in 2008 by Poland's post-Communist authorities for his December 1981 decision to impose martial law. Tanks rolled on to the streets and thousands of opposition activists were arrested overnight. |
| Dozens of people died in the military crackdown, which the general insisted he ordered to avert invasion by Moscow. | Dozens of people died in the military crackdown, which the general insisted he ordered to avert invasion by Moscow. |
| To many Poles he was a traitor but others gave him the benefit of the doubt, BBC Warsaw correspondent Adam Easton reports. | To many Poles he was a traitor but others gave him the benefit of the doubt, BBC Warsaw correspondent Adam Easton reports. |
| The Solidarity movement was outlawed and thousands of its members were arrested, as the Soviet-backed government moved to quash protests and strikes. | |
| Eventually, he agreed that talks with the movement should go ahead. Solidarity was legalised and far-reaching reforms agreed. | |
| Gen Jaruzelski resigned as president in 1990 and was succeeded by Mr Walesa. | Gen Jaruzelski resigned as president in 1990 and was succeeded by Mr Walesa. |