News

Regional election leaders of the main opposition Civic Democratic Party have convinced the party leadership to revise its campaign platform to place a "family" emphasis on the introduction of a flat tax. The flat tax and a universal social benefit could become part of the pro-family policy project, said party deputy Vlastimil Tlusty. The change in tactics comes on the heels of the passage of a popular tax-cut proposal drafted by the ruling Social Democrats. The proposal - which would benefit people earning less than 30,000 crowns per month, or roughly 9 out of every 10 taxpayers - has undercut the appeal of a flat tax, political analysts have said. The centre-right Civic Democrats are now expected to concentrate on presenting themselves as champions of small businesses through other proposals. These include efforts to reduce bureaucracy at all levels of government, and the fight against corruption.

The Vietnamese branch of Interpol and Czech police have announced the safe return home of scores of young women tricked into prostitution in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Vietnamese media reported that among them were some fifty women and girls who had been rescued from illegal brothels in the Czech Republic. Interpol said that organised gangs had made victims believe they'd won a free trip abroad. Several alleged gang members have been arrested.

According to the Czech foreign minister, Cyril Svoboda, the Czech Republic will not back the idea of the European Union monitoring the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The incentive for just such an operation was discussed by EU foreign ministers on Monday, one day after the EU commissioner for the Middle East, Marc Otte, met with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials. Guarding the border to prevent, for example, against the smuggling of weapons, would mean unprecedented EU involvement. Appeals to the European Union have been made by both Israeli and Palestinian representatives.

So far, the EU's foreign ministers have approved to dispatch 50 senior police officers to the Palestinian territories, to take part in training Palestinian police. The Czechs reportedly will have two officers in the group.

Czech police have reported breaking up a drugs gang allegedly organised by prisoners at a maximum security prison. Two men, serving 18 year sentences for double murder are said to have run the gang - which produced methamphetamine - from behind the bars of Valdice prison, making use of cell phones and visits by family members. Seven others have been arrested. According to drug law enforcement head, Jiri Komorous, gang members smuggled methamphetamine, known locally as pervetin, to neighbouring Germany, where they earned the equivalent of about 20,000 US dollars. If found guilty, each of the suspects could face a sentence of 10 to 15 years in prison.