Thousands of PO activists sought by police for questioning

The interrogations are in connection with an ongoing investigation about alleged embezzlement of campaign funds by PO's financial manager in 2005. "It confirms our worst fears about this election campaign. The ruling party is using state institutions and the police for political gain," said PO leader Donald Tusk. The investigation apparently only gathered speed in the run up to next month's election. But Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro yesterday vehemently denied there was any connection, stressing the decision to interrogate the activists was taken two months ago, well before it was known there would be an early election. Sejm Speaker Ludwik Dorn said that although he thought Ziobro's explanations were convincing, he still asked him to postpone the interrogations until after the election. Meanwhile, sources say the Warsaw police received the list of persons to be questioned as late as August 13. (Gazeta Wyborcza p. 1) R.M.