Poles protest moving of crash memorial cross

Warsaw: Supporters of Poland's late president Lech Kaczynski scuffled with police Tuesday as they protested against the planned removal of a large wooden cross erected in front of the presidential palace in his memory.

Kaczynski, his wife Maria and 94 others, mostly senior political officials and military commanders, were killed in a plane crash in Russia on April 10 that plunged Poland into deep mourning and triggered an early presidential election.

Thousands of Poles have left flowers and prayed at the cross, which was erected by a scout group shortly after the accident and quickly turned into an ad hoc shrine to the victims.

Poland's new president, Bronislaw Komorowski, ordered the transfer of the cross yesterday to a nearby church sparking anger among Kaczynski's followers.