News In Brief

Polish police attack bands of workers led by Walesa

Riot police attacked Solidarity demonstrators with clubs, tear gas, and water cannon Tuesday in at least five Polish cities during May Day protests led by Lech Walesa, founder of the banned free-trade-union movement.

There were clashes in Gdansk, Warsaw, Czestochowa, Wroclaw, and Sczcecin as thousands of Solidarity supporters defied heavy forces of police and government warnings of harsh punishment.

As the extent of the response to Solidarity's call for protest demonstrations on behalf of political prisoners became apparent, Mr. Walesa told reporters, ''This is the most successful May Day of my life . . . I am very, very happy.''