Poland's Last Communist Leader Dies at 90

Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law in 1981
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 25, 2014 10:48 AM CDT
Poland's Last Communist Leader Dies at 90
This is a Thursday, May 28, 2009, file photo of Poland's last communist leader, Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, speaks with the AP during an interview at his office in Warsaw, Poland.   (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)

A military hospital spokesman in Warsaw says Poland's last communist leader, Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, has died at age 90. Spokesman Grzegorz Kade said Jaruzelski died in the hospital, where he suffered a stroke earlier this month. He was previously treated for cancer. On Dec. 13, 1981, Jaruzelski imposed martial law in Poland against the wishes of the nationwide pro-democratic Solidarity union. Solidarity eventually prevailed, ousting the communists from power in 1989 election. Jaruzelski is survived by his wife, Barbara, and a daughter, Monika. (More Wojciech Jaruzelski stories.)

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