Former Communist Party Chairman, Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Wojciech Jaruzelski took the stand on Thursday in a trial over the imposition of martial law in Poland in 1981.

Jaruzelski, 85, stood before the Warsaw Regional Court and read out over 200 pages of prepared statement arguing that martial law was needed in 1981 in order to avoid a Soviet-bloc invasion. "I constantly state that martial law saved Poland from looming catastrophe. Martial law was evil, but it was a far lesser evil than what would have happened without it," he said.

If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years in jail.

Jaruzelski and former Interior Minister General Czesław Kiszczak are the main defendants in the martial law trial, however Kiszczak was not present in court, citing health reasons.

The trial has been adjourned till October 2. (AO)