Gross sides with MEPs in Klaus "EU row"

On Sunday outgoing Prime Minister Stanislav Gross sided with two leading members of the European Parliament over a row that erupted between the two and President Vaclav Klaus earlier in the week. The two EP members, EP vice-president Alejo Vidal-Quadras and EP Constitutional Committee head Jo Leinen, drew fire from Mr Klaus after they criticised him for his stance on the EU constitutional treaty. On Sunday, the Czech prime minister backed their argument by saying that some of the statements Mr Klaus had made about the treaty were "misleading".

The outgoing prime minister also criticised the president for his reaction in the row, which he sees as inappropriate. Mr Klaus has said he took offence to the MEP's words as the head of state of a sovereign EU country. He is currently expecting to receive an official apology.