The United Nations on Monday lowered its flag to half mast in honor of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died in a plane crash in western Russia.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told journalists on Monday before leaving for Washington for the nuclear security summit that he would request the General Assembly begin sessions with a minute of silence in remembrance of the Polish leader.
A Soviet-made TU-154 carrying a top-level delegation hit the top of trees as it attempted to land at an airport in western Russia in thick fog on Saturday morning, killing all 96 people on board, including the Polish leader and the country's first lady.
The Polish leader and other top government officials were en route to a ceremony in Katyn to pay tribute to some 20,000 Polish officers killed by Soviet secret police during World War Two.
Poland has declared a 7-day period of national mourning.
Russia has declared Monday to be a national day of mourning for the victims of the crash. National flags are flying at half mast across the country.
NEW YORK, April 12 (RIA Novosti)
