President Komorowski; photo - east news

President Bronislaw Komorowski is placing two of the eight residences at his disposal up for sale in a bid to cut back on expenses and boost treasury coffers.

The properties in question were favoured by the late President Lech Kaczynski and his brother Jaroslaw, and Komorowski's office has already felt obliged to state that the decision is not motivated by any political rivalry.

The first property is a villa in Klarysew near Warsaw, the second, in Lucien near Plock, central Poland.

The former was renovated in 1996-97, and according to the Gazeta Wyborcza daily, includes a special room that is protected against wire-taps.

Joanna Trzaska-Wieczorek, director of the president's press office, holds that the disposal of the villas will save the state 1.2 million zloty per year in running costs. (nh)