WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president has approved legislation that allows for people to be fined or even imprisoned for possessing or buying communist symbols.

President Lech Kaczynski's Web site said Friday that he had signed the law.

It provides for punishments of up to two years in prison for people who possess, purchase or spread items or recordings containing communist symbols.

However, use of such symbols for artistic, educational or collectors' purposes is exempted.

The legislation was initiated by the opposition Law and Justice party, which has sought to purge Poland of the legacy of decades of communist rule.

Left-wing lawmakers and others argued that the law is ill-defined and will be hard to implement.