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The Czech Education Ministry has ordered six private Czech higher-education facilities to drop the word “university” from their English versions of their names and use the term “college” instead. A ministry spokesperson said legal action would be taken of necessary. According to the ministry, only facilities accredited as universities under the Czech law can use the term “university” in their English names. Some of the education facilities, including the Prague-based Anglo-American University, protest the order; Canadian and US embassies in Prague confirmed their claims.

The opposition Social Democrats have begun a three-day party conference at Prague’s Industrial Palace. 600 delegates are taking part to elect new deputy leaders as well as to re-elect Jiří Paroubek as party head. He faces no challengers. One of the main speakers at the congress on Friday was Czech President Václav Klaus, who accepted for the first time an invitation by the leftist party. His speech was closely-watched, as it came days ahead of a key no-confidence vote on the current government. The president declined to comment the upcoming vote, but suggested that during the period of economic crisis political parties needed to display extra responsibility in the interests of the country.

Party leader Jiří Paroubek, who spoke at the start of the conference, revealed that even if the centre-right government was defeated in Tuesday’s vote, he was in favour of it completing the Czech EU presidency.

The Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has said the EU will closely monitor developments in Madagascar following what he described as a coup d’état there this week. On Tuesday, Andry Rajoelina was named the country’s new president by the military, a move widely-criticised as unconstitutional. Mr Schwarzenberg said late Thursday that the change had not been democratic. Following months of strikes and protest, the former president Marc Ravalomanana, was ousted after he transferred power to the military. The EU, the UN and the African Union have all rejected the development.

A new poll by CVVM has suggested that opposition to a planned US anti-missile radar system in the country has grown. Released on Thursday, the poll suggests that those opposed now number 70 percent, up from 65 percent in January. More than 1,100 individuals - aged 15 and older - took part in the poll. The Czech government has signed two treaties with the US on the stationing of its radar base, but it is unclear whether the project will go ahead. It may be put on hold by Washington, pursuing improved relations with Russia. The deal has also not be ratified by the Czech lower house.