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Ceremonies have been taking place around the Czech Republic on the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. On Sunday morning President Vaclav Klaus, other politicians and war veterans attended a memorial ceremony at the National Memorial on Vitkov Hill in Prague to remember those who gave their lives.

On Saturday evening President Klaus also met Czech veterans at Prague Castle, and honoured six of them by promoting them to the rank of general, as well as a further three in memoriam. In a speech he warned against attempts to rewrite the history of the Second World War, and to equate the perpetrators with the victims.

Ceremonies have also been taking place to remember foreign troops, from both the Red Army and the western Allied armies, who gave their lives during the liberation of Czechoslovakia. Around 100,000 people also attended celebrations in Plzen on Saturday to remember the liberation of the city by American troops. Among those attending commemorations in the Czech Republic is the vice-president of the European Commission, Margot Wallstrom.

Alongside various memorial ceremonies, there have also been several re-enactments of historical events, including the bloody battle on Vinohradska Street for control of the radio building during the Prague Uprising, and on Sunday morning thousands of people braved unseasonally cold weather at Prague's Letna Plain for a huge historical military parade. The parade was also the first chance for the people of Prague to see some of the Czech Republic's new fleet of Gripen supersonic fighter aircraft in the air during a fly-past.

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel has denied earlier reports that he signed an open letter attacking Russia's record on democracy and political freedom. Mr Havel said that although he had not signed the letter, he could sympathize with anyone pointing out the deep ambiguities of the Soviet liberation of Eastern Europe at the end of the war. The letter's 75 signatories include former prime ministers of Soviet bloc countries like Estonia, as well as current and former politicians from both Europe and the United States. It is to be published in the UK's Financial Times newspaper on May 9, to coincide with ceremonies in Moscow marking the end of the Second World War. The signatories accuse Russia of betraying the principles behind the victory against Nazi Germany 60 years ago.

The government spokeswoman Veronika Skorepova has resigned following reports in the Czech media that she had padded her official resume. Ms Skorepova was the long-time assistant to the newly appointed Prime Minister, Jiri Paroubek, during his tenure as local development minister. Mr Paroubek took office on the 25th of April and Ms Skorepova assumed her new role just over a week later. Czech media had reported on Friday that she had listed work experience on her CV with at least one organisation for which she had never worked. Ms Skorepova, a former journalist, said she had been the target of a "negative media campaign" and denied that she had false information in her resume. She said was leaving her post only because she did not want to discredit the new government in any way.

Official commemorations marking 60 years since the end of the Second World War continued on Saturday along with re-enactments of several historical events, including the bloody battle on Vinohradska Street for control of what was then Czechoslovak Radio. Among the larger events: President Vaclav Klaus is due to host a celebration at the Prague Castle honouring Czech veterans of the war. Celebrations also are being held in Plzen, which along with western Bohemia, was liberated by American and other Allied soldiers. Sunday will see a host of memorial events, including the first military parade on the city's Letna plain since the fall of communism.