News

Alois Grebenicek, a former Communist secret police officer accused of torturing political prisoners in the 1950s, has died in hospital at the age of 81. Mr Grebenicek, a former investigator for the Communist-era State Security service or StB, was charged over the offences six years ago, but never appeared in court, citing ill health. The presiding judge said the case was now closed and she had no comment to make. Several of his alleged victims have expressed their frustration that Mr Grebenicek had not been brought to justice. Alois Grebencek was the father of the chairman of the present-day Communist Party, Miroslav Grebenicek.

Police in Prague say a man was shot in the arm on Monday after bumping into another passenger in a metro station. The 27-year-old man is now recovering in hospital. He told police the incident happened inside a metro carriage at the Muzeum station, in the centre of Prague. He said he had accidentally bumped into another passenger, a man described as Czech speaking and around 30. He had apologised, but the other passenger drew a pistol and fired once at close range, hitting him in the upper arm.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus is feeling better and is most likely to be released from hospital this weekend. Suffering from exhaustion, pains in his joints and tonsillitis, Mr Klaus was admitted to hospital on Monday evening. His doctors recommend he stay home for at least another week. The Czech President is expected to rest at the presidential summer retreat of Lany Castle.

President Vaclav Klaus, who is sixty-two and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday suffering from tonsillitis and complaining of tiredness and pains to the joints, says he is feeling better, though he still awaits a series of tests to check up on his overall health. Mr Klaus had to cancel his busy schedule and post-pone the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court and other official duties in his regular agenda. The president will be released from hospital by the end of the week.