Poland's parliament on Wednesday established an annual day of remembrance for more than 14,000 Polish officers who were captured at the start of World War II and killed by Soviet secret police.

Members of the 460-member lower house, or Sejm, agreed to make April 13 an annual "Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Katyn Crime," one of the most painful episodes in Poland's history.

Lawmakers stood and applauded, approving the resolution by acclamation.