Warsaw- Poland marked 90 years of modern-day independence Tuesday with tears, patriotic speeches and a gala that controversially left former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa off the guest list.

The national holiday included Roman Catholic church services, parades and ceremonies at monuments to General Jozef Pilsudski, who led Poland toward freedom in
1918 after 123 years of partition by Austria, Germany and Russia.

Warsaw- Poland kicked off celebrations on Tuesday marking the 90th anniversary of the country's independence amid controversy at the omission of former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa from the guest list.

The state holiday was to include church services, parades, historic re-enactments and ceremonies at monuments to General Jozef Pilsudski, who led Poland towards independence in 1918. Poland had been partitioned for 123 years by regional powers Austria, Germany and Russia.

Warsaw  - US president-elect Barack Obama's victory means "a new image for America across the world," and seems "like a fairy tale," Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Wednesday.

But an opposition leader had doubts Obama could be tough enough with Russia.

"It's a joyful moment, because Americans feel that something very important has taken place," Sikorski told a radio station, calling Obama "charismatic" and "unbelievably intelligent."

Warsaw - US president-elect Barack Obama will create "a new image for America across the world," building on an election victory that seems "like a fairy tale," Poland's foreign minister said Wednesday.

"It's a joyful moment, because Americans feel that something very important has taken place," Radek Sikorski told Polish Radio, calling Obama "charismatic" and "unbelievably intelligent."

"That opens a new chapter in their history, and something that makes them feel they can again feel proud as Americans."

Warsaw- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Tuesday criticised President Lech Kaczysnki over a joint statement with Lithuania opposing a resumption of EU negotiations with Russia.

Sikorski said Kaczynski's joint statement issued late Monday with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus had not been cleared with the Polish government beforehand. Sikorski said he had only learned about the document from his Lithuanian colleague at the current EU foreign ministers' meeting in Marseille.

Warsaw - The newly-elected head of the Polish football federation (PZPN) faced criticism Friday that he wouldn't rid the sport of corruption.

Former Polish football great Grzegorz Lato replaced Michal Listkiewicz as president of the ailing PZPN on Thursday, promising to "clear" the sport of corruption. He also needs to fully overcome a recent spur with football's governing body FIFA.

But Lato quickly came under fire - mainly from politicians - that he would do little to change the scandal-ridden federation.

Slawomir Nowak, top aide to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said those who had ideas to improve the organization lost, and lost noticeably.