The former secretary general of Poland's Communist Party maintained his innocence Thursday during closing statements in the trial about his involvement in the declaration of martial law 30 years ago, dpa reported. The 84-year-old, who is standing trial with former interior minister Czeslaw Kiszczak, told a court in Warsaw that the charges brought against him were "disgraceful accusations." The verdict is to be announced on January 12. Kiszczak and former general Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law in Communist Poland in 1981 and cracked down on political opponents. Hundreds of people were arrested and some 100 died over an 18-month period. Martial law remains controversial in Poland. Many agree with Jaruzelski that the crackdown was necessary to avoid a possible Soviet invasion. Others view him as a traitor, and say he should answer for his actions. A district court ruled last year that Jaruzelski, 88, was too weak to continue a trial that started in 2008. -- SPA
