(By Estera Popowska)

Polls have opened on Sunday for presidential elections in Poland where incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski is seeking a second term in office. BBC says opinion polls put Mr. Komorowski in the lead, but if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote there will be a second round.

President Komorowski took office five years ago after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash.The president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

Mr Komorowski, 62, is an independent allied with the centre-right Civic Platform, which has been in government since 2007. His main challenger is Andrzej Duda, from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Kaczynski's twin brother, Jaroslaw.

During a period of tension with Russia over the unrest in Ukraine, President Komorowski says he has promoted stability."Poles have a need for normality, for peace, for security and for order," he said at his final rally on Friday.

"I hope that accord and security will win." The presidential vote comes ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn, and may give pointers to Civic Platform's chances of retaining power. If no candidate wins more than 50%, a second round will be held on 24 May.(BBC)