Poland 'to hold early presidential election'

Poland will hold an early presidential election after the death of President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash in Russia on Saturday, the government spokesman said.

"In line with the constitution, we will have to hold an early presidential poll," Pawel Gras told Reuters. "For now, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, is automatically ... the acting president."

Constitutionalists say the election date must be announced within two weeks and the election must take place within two months of the announcement.