Insight Central Europe News

Polish PM survives crash-landing

Poland's Prime Minister Leszek Miller is to stay in hospital for at least a week after the helicopter he was travelling in crash-landed. Mr Miller has two fractured vertebrae. Polish officials said at least eight others were also injured when the Soviet-era Mi-8 helicopter came down in a field just outside Warsaw. A government spokesman said the aircraft had had an engine problem.

Slovak parliament overrides presidential veto on flat income tax

Parliament in Slovakia has overridden a presidential veto on a law introducing a 19 percent flat income tax. President Rudolf Schuster vetoed the law last month, saying the flat tax won't be beneficial for Slovaks with lower incomes, pensioners and needy others. The government says it will simplify the tax system, attract foreign investment and make tax evasion more difficult. The law will now come into force on January 1st.

Slovene foreign minister testifies over alleged abuse of office

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has been testifying before an inquiry into corruption allegations. Last month, district prosecutors accused Rupel of abusing his position to help establish and finance a private teaching academy for future diplomats. Rupel has rejected the accusations.

Czechs dismantle Iraq hospital

The Czech Republic has begun to pull its field hospital out of Iraq. The hospital, which treats both Iraqis and members of the U.S coalition closes at the end of this year. Last month the Czech government decided to replace the hospital with 80 military police because it said there was a lack of qualified staff to rotate into the facility to keep the operation running successfully. Czech Ambassador to Kuwait Jana Hybaskova sharply criticised the decision and was subsequently removed from her position.

U.S. troops believed Hungarian civilian was suicide bomber

The first Hungarian killed in Iraq, has been buried in his hometown of Gyor. Peter Varga-Balazs, died when his light van crashed into a U.S. military Humvee after troops opened fire on his vehicle at a temporary checkpoint near Ramadi, about 130 kilometers west of the Iraqi capital. The soldiers are said to have mistaken him for a suicide bomber. Varga-Balazs's family are now considering plans to sue the U.S. Army and the Hungarian company, which employed him.