The coffin of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who was killed in a plane crash this weekend in Russia, will be put on public view this week before he is buried along with his wife, said Minister Jacek Sasin of the presidential chancellery on Monday, DPA reported.
Kaczynski was among 96 dead in a Saturday plane crash in Smolensk, Russia. The accident also claimed dozens of high-ranking officials, including the head of the national bank and the army chief of staff.
Kaczynski's closed coffin will be up on public view from Tuesday until his funeral, which is slated for Saturday, Stasiak told radio station RMF FM. The presidential couple will be buried together, Stasiak said.
"We would like that every Pole who wants to pay respects to the president can come and stand before the coffin," Sasin told the station.
Sasin said Kaczynski's funeral will pay tribute to all who died in the plane, which was en route to Russia for ceremonies marking the Soviet-era Katyn massacre of some 22,000 Polish officers.
Kaczynski's twin brother Jaroslaw, head of the opposition party Law and Justice, identified the president's body on Saturday in Smolensk.
Russian officials have said the remaining victims could be identified by mid-week, and the transport of their bodies to Poland could begin Thursday.
Health Minister Ewa Kopacz said Sunday that 14 victims could be identified by appearance of the corpse. Another 10 victims could be identified by distinctive characteristics. The remaining bodies will require DNA testing to establish identity, Kopacz said.
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