Run-off looms in Polish presidential election

Poland's presidential election is heading for a second round, with no single candidate getting enough votes to win Sundays first round. Bronislaw Komorowski, who has been acting leader since President Lech Kaczynski died in a plane crash on March 10, won but by less than expected. With 94 percent of votes counted, he had won 41.22 percent as compared to the 36.74 percent taken by Kaczynskis twin brother, Jaroslaw. The two will now go head-to-head in a run-off on 4 July. Lech Kaczynski was one of 96 people who died in a plane crash in Smolensk in western Russia on April 10. The dead included many of Polands political and military leaders, and the disaster has overshadowed the election campaign. However, the next fortnight of campaigning is likely to be more divisive. The disaster also boosted the ratings of the late president's twin, Jaroslaw, a combative conservative former prime minister who was voted out of office three years ago. Mr Kaczynski voted on Sunday in Warsaw accompanied by his late brother's daughter and two granddaughters. Mr Komorowski comes from the same Civic Platform party as Prime Minister Donald Tusk - a feature thought to appeal to many voters, who tired of the tensions between the government and the late president. The centre-right parliamentary speaker, who is now the acting president, says his whole career proves that he is a man who can unite the nation. Both candidates appealed to national unity during an election overshadowed by April's plane crash and recent floods that killed 24 people and forced thousands from their homes. Turnout in the election was reported to be just short of 55 percent. More than 30 million of Polands 38 million citizens were registered to vote.