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The central executive committee of the Czech Social Democrat Party (CSSD) has expelled deputy Milos Melcak from its ranks for supporting the centre-right government in a parliamentary confidence vote last month. Mr Melcak was one of two social democrat deputies who defied party orders and abstained from a confidence vote in January, which enabled the current coalition government consisting of the centre-right Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Green Party to take power. The social democrat party has gone ahead with Mr Melcak's expulsion despite the fact that his local organisation in Zlin decided not to take any action against him. Mr Melcak has so far not commented on this latest development. He will be allowed to appeal the decision of the social democrat party's national conference in Brno next month. The other rebel social democrat MP Michal Pohanka has already resigned from the party of his own accord.

Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova has officially informed her NATO counterparts about the U.S. request to the Czech Republic to build a radar base on its territory. A spokesperson for the Czech Defence Ministry told the press that Ms Parkanova had told an informal meeting of foreign ministers from NATO countries that the USA had asked the Czech Republic to start negotiations on the issue. He added that the ministr will also keep the Czech Republic's allies informed of further developments,

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has said that the Christian Democrat deputy prime minister Jiri Cunek will remain in office despite being charged by police for taking bribes. Police have charged the Christian Democrat leader with receiving money from a building company when he was mayor of the town of Vsetin five years ago. The opposition Social Democrats have criticised the prime minister for not dismissing Mr Cunek. Prime Minister Topolanek said that Mr Cunek should be allowed to try and clear his name before any further action is taken against him. Meanwhile, in a separate development, Petr Hurta, the head of the building company at the centre of the Cunek case has also been arrested in connection with the case.

Czech tennis player Lucie Safarova has inflicted a shock defeat on world number two Justine Henin 7:6, 6:4 to progress to reach the final of the Paris Open. The twenty-year old, who reached the quarter-finals of last month's Australian Open, will try to win her third WTA title on Sunday when she faces the winner of Saturday's other semi-final between Amelie Mauresmo and Nadia Petrova.