A white rose was placed in a vase at the front of the European Parliament's Chamber each time the name of one of the 96 Polish victims of Saturday's plane crash was read out during a ceremony in Brussels yesterday.

MEPs and top EU officials packed the Chamber for a commemorative ceremony held in honour of the victims of the tragedy in Russia, which also claimed the life of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and scores of other senior Polish officials.

The ceremony was led by EP president Jerzy Buzek, himself a Pole and the first Eastern European to hold this prestigious position in the EU's history.

Mr Buzek said "history has dramatically come full circle" after the accident.

The plane was taking the Presidential delegation to a ceremony in western to mark the 70th anniversary of the massacre of about 22,000 Polish officers by Soviet secret police, most of them at Katyn.

"We have been touched by the Russian reaction, full of dignity and understanding," Mr Buzek said.

"We believe it will help us reconcile our continent in both historical truth and mutual trust," the former Polish Prime Minister said in a statement, alluding to the long-standing tensions between Poland and Russia over the killings.

The massacre at Katyn, which lies close to Smolensk, is one of the seminal moments in modern Polish history and a key point of difficulty in relations with Russia.

Russian officials, including President and Premier , were quick to offer their support to Poland in the wake of the crash, making a range of gestures that have been widely appreciated in Poland.

Flags outside the EU's three main institutions - the Commission, Parliament and Council - have been flying at half mast since Saturday to honour the victims.

Many EU leaders are expected to attend the state funeral in Krakow on Sunday.