Polish PM Marcinkiewicz resigns-ruling party

WARSAW, July 7 (Reuters) Poland's popular Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz resigned today after increased tensions with leaders of his Law and Justice party.

The party said Marcinkiewicz, a moderate, would be replaced by its top leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, twin brother of President Lech Kaczynski.

''The political council of Law and Justice has been informed of the resignation of Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz and unanimously recommended Jaroslaw Kaczynski for new prime minister,'' a party spokesman said.

Party sources have said Marcinkiewicz has become increasingly at odds with the powerful Kaczynskis over appointments to various state posts.

They said Marcinkiewicz's meeting with opposition leader Donald Tusk this week and earlier appointment of his aide as new finance minister were the last straw for the party leadership.

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