News of Radio Prague

Havel says Kavan should consider resigning in wake of alleged murder plot

President Vaclav Havel has called on the chairman of the United Nations General Assembly, former Czech foreign minister Jan Kavan, to consider resigning, following allegations of a plot to kill a journalist. On Monday four people were arrested in connection with the alleged plot, including Karel Srba, who worked with Mr Kavan at the Foreign Ministry. Mr Srba resigned in the wake of a scandal exposed by the journalist who was the target of the alleged murder plot, Sabina Slonkova, who writes for the daily Mlada Fronta Dnes

Havel recuperating at home after week in hospital

Mr Havel made the call just hours after being released from hospital. He had been taken ill with bronchitis a week ago. On Tuesday morning the president smiled and waved at journalists as he left the Central Military Hospital for the presidential chateau, where he is to continue undergoing treatment. Mr Havel, who is 65 and a former heavy smoker, has suffered from health problems for several years, and has been hospitalised 16 times since taking office. His term as president ends at the beginning of 2003.

Counterfeit compact discs seized in west Bohemia raid

Investigators have raided a warehouse full of pirated compact discs in the west Bohemian town of Cheb. Some 40 to 50 thousand counterfeit CDs with an estimated value of 20 million Czech crowns were seized in the raid, and one man has been arrested. Music industry estimates say that every year as many illegal CDs are bought as legal ones in the Czech Republic.

Man dies in Prague police chase collision

A motorcyclist was killed during a police chase in Prague on Monday evening, when he collided with a police car. The man had failed to return a motorbike he had borrowed from an acquaintance, who called the police for assistance as he himself gave chase. Several police cars attempted to stop the man, who died when he crashed into an oncoming police car. The incident is now being investigated.

Poetic Party to field candidates for Senate elections

The Balbinova Poetic Party - formed by poets and former dissidents ahead of June's general elections - are planning to field candidates in this autumn's Senate elections. The unconventional party - who are based in a Prague bar called the Balbinova Poetic Pub - plan to field candidates in several constituencies. In Prague the party will be represented by poet Ivan "Magor" Jirous, a close acquaintance of President Vaclav Havel when they were both dissidents during the communist era.

Wednesday's weather

Wednesday should be cloudy with showers in places, and temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius.