News

In related news, the east Moravian town of Vsetin, where Jiri Cunek was mayor, has denied a story by Czech newspaper Lidove Noviny suggesting inappropriate dealings over 4.5 million crowns (around 250,000 US dollars). The sum was received as a down payment, the daily writes, in the town's sale of its majority stake in its professional ice hockey club. A first payment of 4.5 million crowns was paid out after the sale was agreed with a Russian company, but according to Lidove Noviny the funds later disappeared. Town Hall representatives have dismissed the story as false, saying they did not receive the money at all and will consider suing Lidove Noviny for libel.

Vsetin hockey club chairman Oldrich Stefl has told the media that the 4.5 million, roughly a fifth of the agreed price, were received by the club but invested. The deal then fell through and procedures were begun on the cancellation of the contract. According to Mr Stefl, negotiations with the Russian buyer on the return of the funds will now depend on the final cancellation of the sale.

Social Democrat deputy chairman Zdenek Skromach has indicated that he has no intention of challenging current party head Jiri Paroubek for leadership of the Social Democrats, holding a three-day party conference to choose or reconfirm party leadership next week. At the same time, Mr Skromach has stated that he hopes to be re-elected as a deputy chairman. In the past the former minister for labour and social affairs was seen as a contender for top post of the Social Democrats. Two years ago he ran but lost to former prime minister Stanislav Gross. Mr Skromach's decision now means that current leader Jiri Paroubek will not face any challengers: the party votes next Friday.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has said the Czech Republic should sign up to the International Criminal Court and end what he has called the "barely sustainable position" of being the only EU state not to have done so. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Mr Topolanek said the Czech Republic should sign up to the treaty by the time it takes over the EU's presidency in 2009. MPs from Mr Topolanek's own Civic Democratic Party voted down a proposal to sign up to the statute creating the Hague-based court in 2001 because of fears that it would leave Czechs open to international prosecution. The Czech foreign ministry has admitted to the country's current position being an embarrassment.

Czech speed skater Martina Sablikova set a new world record in the 10,000 metres speed skating event in Calgary, Canada on Thursday to become the first woman skater to finish under the fourteen minute mark. The speed skater, who is just 19, finished with a time of 13:48.33, improving on a record she set last year. Sablikova has enjoyed repeated success in 2007: last weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah she set a new women's world record in the five kilometre race.