Historic 'broken pen' under the hammer

Poland's president is auctioning off a fountain pen that refused to work when he signed the European Union reform treaty at a ceremony attended by EU leaders.

Lech Kaczynski delayed signing Poland's ratification of the so-called Lisbon Treaty for 18 months. When he finally approved it on 10 October, his Stipula pen refused to write.

Instead, an aide lent Kaczynski a ballpoint pen to sign the document.

The president's website says the pen refused to co-operate at the most important moment for Poland, which joined the EU in 2004. It did not say if the pen is now working.

- AP