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A pressure group called Forum 50% says it expects there will be fewer women in the next Czech parliament. Women currently hold 17 percent of seats in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies: based on candidate lists Forum 50% says that figure could drop to 14 percent after elections in June. They point out that countries such as Afghanistan and Vietnam have a higher percentage of women in parliament.

The Prague embassies of a number of Arab countries have protested about a documentary on the life of Muslims in the Czech Republic shown on state broadcaster Czech Television, Hospodarske noviny reported. The film features material shot on a hidden camera and accompanies testimony by Muslims with footage of terrorist attacks. The Czech Broadcasting Council is assessing whether the documentary was in breach of broadcasting regulations.

Meanwhile, fire fighters say they uncovered serious problems concerning blocked escape routes while carrying out inspections of snow on the roofs of public buildings. Over 1,700 buildings were checked and a full one third of those did not have adequate fire escape routes, said a spokesperson for the Czech fire officers association.

Czech engine drivers are planning to go on strike to protest at a clause in a new Labour Code, which was approved by the Lower House of Parliament earlier this month. The Federation of Train Conductors announced on Thursday that it will be joined by members of ten trade unions that represent engine drivers across the country. The strike is scheduled for March 16.

The new Labour Code has yet to be approved by the Senate and signed by the President. The train conductors say a clause on collective bargaining is discriminating and unconstitutional because it allows employers to enter into agreement with the biggest trade union in the company, without consideration for the smaller ones.