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The Czech ambassador to Kuwait, Jana Hybaskova, is to represent the Czech Republic at a conference in Baghdad on the establishment of an interim government in Iraq. Representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain, Australia and Poland are also due to attend, though Ms Hybaskova said it was not yet clear whether the conference would begin on Sunday evening or Monday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Vit Kolar said on Saturday the Czechs had been invited due to their experience in transformation from a totalitarian state to a democracy.

The Czech Republic is one of six countries which will take part in an international conference on the creation of an interim government in Iraq. The conference is due to get underway in Baghdad on Sunday and will also be attended by representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Spain and Poland. Foreign Ministry spokesman Vit Kolar said on Saturday the Czechs had been invited due to their experience in transformation from a totalitarian state to a democracy.

The collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime has done little to change opposition among the Czech public to the war, according to a poll released on Friday by the CVVM polling agency. The latest poll, conducted in mid-April, suggests 70 percent of Czechs oppose the US-led war. A poll conducted in early March just before the war began suggested 72 percent of Czechs were against it. Of the 24 percent who said they were for the war in the latest poll, one third said it was necessary to remove Saddam Hussein while almost a quarter said it was a justifiable means of fighting terrorism.

The Czech Republic's ice hockey team have won their first game at the sport's World Championships in Finland. The Czechs beat Slovenia 5:2 on Saturday afternoon and take on Austria in their next game on Monday.