Polish Leader Among 132 Dead In Russia Jet Crash

Polish President Killed in Plane Crash

Lech Kaczynski and his wife, along with some Polish government officials, were among 132 people on the plane, which crashed in western Russia.

ussian officials say Polish President Lech Kaczynski has died in a plane crash in western Russia.

They say all 132 people on the plane were killed in the crash Saturday at 0700 UTC. Polish officials confirmed that the president and his wife Maria were on board.

Passengers also included Poland's army chief, Franciszek Gagor, deputy foreign minister, Andrzej Kremer, and central bank governor, Slawomir Skrzypek.

Mr. Kaczynski's Russian-made Tupelov aircraft went down as it approached Smolensk airport.

Video from the crash site showed the wreckage in a heavily wooded area, with part of the plane on fire. News reports say the aircraft struck treetops before crashing. The exact cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Polish government is expected to hold an emergency meeting Saturday.

Poland's constitution calls for the speaker of the parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, to assume presidential duties.

Mr. Kaczynski was heading to Russia to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the World War II-era killing of 22,000 Polish officers by Soviet security forces at the town of Katyn near Smolensk.