News

A unit of specialised forces have left for Kuwait to protect the joint Czech-Slovak anti-chemical unit if it should be called upon to enter Iraqi territory. The specialised unit includes sixteen soldiers from the Czech Republic's elite forces based in Prostejov, central Moravia. The Czech-Slovak anti-chemical unit would only be allowed to enter Iraq to provide humanitarian aid if chemical or biological weapons were used in the war. Following consultations with US officials the Czech Republic decided to give the anti-chemical unit additional protection in light of an increase in guerrilla war tactics by Iraq against the allied forces.

The Czech Republic has been included on a list of countries by President George Bush which are to benefit financially for supporting the United States, if the US Congress approves his request for 75 billion dollars in funding for the US-led wait against Iraq. The Czech Republic, along with Poland and Hungary would receive some 15 million dollars to cover expenses, in what Mr Bush has called the fight against terrorism. This despite the fact that Czech officials have expressed opposition to the Czech Republic being included on the list of countries taking part in the coalition against Iraq.

The director of the Czech Secret Service, Jiri Ruzek, told the BBC on Wednesday that Iraqi agents plotted an attack on the Prague headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The planned strike was intended to stop the US-funded station from broadcasting to Iraq. This marks the first time that that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was confirmed as a target for a terrorist attack by a Czech official. Security at the station's headquarters was stepped up after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the US. The station's headquarters are near the top of Wenceslas Square, a highly populated area adjacent to a vital Prague highway.

The joint Czech-Slovak anti-chemical unit based in Kuwait has increased its monitoring of the situation involving radiation and chemical and biological weapons in the country, the unit's commander Dusan Lupuljev said on Tuesday. The monitoring was stepped up at midnight on Monday following a request from the Kuwaiti authorities. In the light of reports that Iraq may use such weapons when Baghdad is attacked, Czech and United States officials have held talks on US soldiers protecting the unit if it enters Iraq. The Czech parliament has approved its troops taking part in the US-led war against Saddam Hussein's regime if Iraq uses such weapons, though they are expected to play a primarily humanitarian role.

Meanwhile the Czech-Slovak anti-chemical unit has again come under repeated rocket fire, but - as with previous attacks - none of the rockets have reached their target and there have been no injuries.

In other war-related news, a total of seven US B 52 bomber planes have flown across the Czech Republic in the last 24 hours. Previously the US had only flown transport planes through Czech air space.