Walesa backs woman for PM

WARSAW (Reuter) - Hanna Suchocka, 46, a law professor, won approval from President Lech Walesa of Poland yesterday for her attempt to end a power deadlock by becoming Poland's first female prime minister.

Ms Suchocka, accompanied by leading members of a hastily-assembled seven-party coalition, presented a cabinet to Mr Walesa which had been agreed after five days of negotiations. 'The President has approved Hanna Suchocka as a candidate for prime minister and her cabinet line-up,' a spokesman said.

Mr Walesa is expected to put Ms Suchocka's nomination before parliament after asking MPs to recall the Prime Minister, Waldemar Pawlak. Mr Pawlak offered to resign last week, having failed to form a coalition after a month of negotiations.