A younger Walesa became a national hero in 1980

But Mr Walesa gathered less than 1% of the vote in last Sunday's presidential election, won by the incumbent Aleksander Kwasniewski, a former communist who had already defeated Mr Walesa in 1995.

"The election results have indicated that I should step to the side of the political scene and withdraw from current activities," Mr Walesa said in a statement.

Political isolation

Correspondents say Mr Walesa's abrasive style led to his defeat in the 1995 presidential election and later his increasing isolation in Polish politics.

The 57-year-old former shipyard electrician said he was giving his tiny Christian Democracy Party free rein to help build a "strong middle-of-the-road formation" capable of rivalling the left.

Lech Walesa

1980: Becomes leader of Solidarity 1981: Arrested in anti-democracy crackdown 1982: Released, Polish martial law eased 1983: Awarded Nobel peace prize 1984: Solidarity legalised 1990: Elected president of Poland 1995: Defeated in presidential elections 2000: Cleared of charges of working with Communist state police; second electoral defeat

"My party keeps looking to me to do something... But my presence paralyses and dominates things, so I must find another place for myself," he said.

Correspondents say the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize laureate is now one of Poland's least popular politicians.

Such a slump in his fortunes would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.

Mr Walesa was imprisoned when the communist authorities imposed martial law in 1981, and came to symbolise the political struggle which led to the defeat of communism.

But in recent times Mr Walesa has been accused of having worked for the communist police, spying on fellow dissidents in the 1970s.

He was cleared of the charges in August, but many Poles were shocked by the allegations.