Greens insist on Deputy PM's resignation

The Green Party has reiterated its demand for deputy prime minister and regional development minister Jiri Cunek to leave government. Party leader Martin Bursik said on Saturday that if Mr Cunek will not leave government of his own accord or if he was not dismissed by his own Christian Democratic Party, then Prime Minister Jiri Topolanek should dismiss the minister himself. Mr Bursik also said that he had asked the prime minister to call a meeting of the coalition parties to discuss the issue, but that he was not going to give Mr Topolanek an ultimatum that his party would leave government if Mr Cunek remained. The Green Party have also demanded that Mr Cunek refrain from commenting on Roma matters or interfering with the work of minister without portfolio Dzamil Stehlikova, who also has responsibility for minorities. Mr Cunek has been under pressure to resign from government since being charged with taking a bribe as mayor of the town of Vsetin five years ago. He has also been heavily criticised for making offensive remarks about Romanies