Minister in fist-fight at dentists' national conference

Strained relations between dentists and the health minister came to head at the national conference of Czech dentists on Saturday. One of the delegates to the conference Miroslav Macek - a member of the Civic Democratic Party and advisor to President Klaus - started a fist fight with the health minister who was present at the gathering. The two men were separated by the minister's aide and Macek left saying he'd started the fight over a private affair.

Jiri Pekarek, the Chairman of the Czech Dentists Association apologized to Mr. Rath on behalf of all present. Pekarek said dentists were offended that the minister had described them as puppets of the opposition Civic Democratic Party. Minister Rath has said on several occasions that the week of protests against him is orchestrated by the leading opposition party.

The attack was severely condemned by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek who said at an impromptu press conference that he viewed the attack as a political affair and called on President Klaus to reprimand his advisor. Mr. Paroubek said the Civic Democrats were creating an atmosphere conductive to violence against left wing parties. The President's Office has not commented on the affair. The Civic Democratic Party has distanced itself from Macek's action.