Lepper and Wierzbicki to be arrested for failing to make court appearance

The regional court in Slubice decided on Monday to arrest presidential candidate and Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper and the leader of the farmers' union "Solidarnosc" Roman Wierzbicki for 30 days. The arrest warrants will be issued. Both of them together with Janusz Maksymiuk the former president of farmers trade union Krajowy Zwiazek Rolazek Rolnikow, Kolek i Organizacji Rolniczych, are accused of organizing a blockade at the terminal in Swieck in January 1999. On Monday only Maksymiuk appeared in the court. Wierzbicki did not informed the court why he failed to arrive, while Leppper's attorney sent an explanation saying that his client had to be present at the campaign headquarters in Warsaw, which was not true according to the court. Lepper commented that the court's decision is an interference to his presidential campaign. (Rzeczpospolita, page A1)