The three-hour memorial linked to the poems, music and speeches in honor of those who died. Warsaw's main square was filled with people, among them relatives and friends of the victims of last Saturday's air crash in western Russia. President Kaczynski's daughter and twin brother came, as did past leaders like President Lech Walesa. Later, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he still found it hard to comprehend the tragedy. On Sunday, President Kaczynski and the first lady will be buried in the state funeral in Krakow.

The White House has announced that President Obama won't be attending Mr Kaczynski's state funeral on Sunday because of the travel chaos across Europe. He joins a growing list of world leaders and dignitaries who have cancelled plans to make the trip to Krakow. They include the heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales and the kings of Sweden and Spain. Another absentee will be the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In a speech to mark the arrival of Pope Benedict in Malta, the island's President George Abela has referred to a current court case there against three Roman Catholic priests accused of child sex abuse. Mr Abela said justice must be seen to be done in the case. The visit to Malta is the Pope's first foreign trip since the child sex abuse scandal affecting the Church came to a head in Europe and the United States. The Pope avoided making any direct reference to cases of child sex abuse by priests.