Human rights representative denies claims of resignation

The Czech government’s representative for human rights, Michael Kocáb, denied late on Wednesday the prime minister’s claim that he had tendered his resignation. Prime Minister Petr Nečas said he accepted Mr Kocáb’s resignation, and thanked him for his work in the field of human rights; Michael Kocáb however said that at Wednesday’s meeting, the prime minister pushed him to resign which he refused. Speculation about Mr Kocáb’s demise appeared as soon as PM Nečas appointed the conservative pundit, Roman Joch, his advisor for human rights. Mr Joch said several times the position of human rights representative was redundant. Mr Kocáb, formerly a rock musician, also served as the Human Rights Minister in the previous cabinet.