World leaders react to Polish president's death

Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria

World leaders are reacting with sadness to the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, whose plane crashed in Russia early Saturday.

U.S. President Barack Obama called the accident a devastating loss for Poland, the U.S. and the world. He said he contacted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to express his deepest condolences.

British Prime minister Gordon Brown said he was saddened by the news of the accident and that the whole world will be saddened by it also. He said he knew the sacrifices Mr. Kaczynski made on the part of the Solidarity movement in Poland and for Polish freedom.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Mr. Kaczynski a tireless defender of democracy and liberty and a leader in the fight against totalitarianism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her deep dismay at the Polish president's death as well as all those on board.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called Mr. Kaczynski one of his closest friends. He called him a hero, not only in Poland but in Georgia as well.

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