Klaus accuses Paroubek of unprecedented control of government, party

President Vaclav Klaus has made a strong attack on Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, accusing him of "one-man rule". Speaking in Wednesday's Mlada fronta Dnes the president said the extent of Mr Paroubek's power over both the government and his Social Democratic Party was unprecedented in the post-revolution era. For his part, Mr Paroubek said the president had broken his pledge to remain above party politics.

The right-wing Civic Democrats, founded by Mr Klaus, are narrowly in front of the Social Democrats in most polls ahead of general elections this weekend.