Thousands in rival rallies over Polish crisis

WARSAW, Oct 7 (Reuters) Around 20,000 Poles took part in rival demonstrations in the capital today over whether the ruling conservatives, who are struggling to form a coalition, should call a snap election.

Supporters of the biggest opposition party, the centre-right Civic Platform, called on the government to dissolve parliament. The conservatives ditched their leftist coalition partners last month in a row over the 2007 budget and a decision to send more troops to Afghanistan.

''We are here to say loud what Poland feels ... We are here to say it is enough,'' Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Platform, told a crowd of more than 11,000 people gathered at what organisers called the ''Blue March''.

''We want early elections now,'' their banners read.

Opinion polls show more than 60 per cent of Poles believe elections should be held and, according to most surveys, the Civic Platform would win them.

At a rival rally, 8,000 supporters of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his twin brother Lech Kaczynski, the president, held banners reading ''Solidarity in Poland''.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski told the crowd he would fight to stay in power and defend his policies.

''Poland is right here with us and the future of Poland is with us,'' he said. ''The government has to stay to build a better Poland even though those who are lying may not like it.'' Kaczynski is also under pressure after his top aide was caught on film asking an opposition MP what she wanted in return for switching sides, hinting at possible financial arrangements.

LOST TIME ''I am here because I really believe that Poland has to get out of this mud ... What I saw on the secret film really shocked me,'' Wincenty Heinrich, a supporter of the Civic Platform, told Reuters.

''That is not what they promised people ... We should end this and stop losing time.'' Police said that unlike in fellow EU member Hungary, where anti-government protests last month in Budapest turned violent, the Warsaw demonstrations were peaceful.

Law and Justice came to power in September 2005 on a promise to weed out corruption and instigate a ''moral revolution'' after a string of scandals during the previous leftist rule.

But its alliance with two populist fringe parties has disappointed many Poles.

The leftist Self-Defence party quit the coalition last month and the conservatives have failed to form a new majority. Local elections are due in November.

Analysts believe the political deadlock could prevent Poland, the biggest ex-communist European Union member, from pushing through economic reforms that are crucial if it is to catch up with richer western EU countries.

REUTERS KD BD2000