News

Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan has said that, contrary to reports in the Czech press, the investigation into whether or not Freedom Union MP Zdenek Koristka was offered a bribe to vote against the government in a confidence will continue and even "intensify." Some Czech media reported on Tuesday that the police investigation would likely be dropped due to a lack of evidence. Mr Koristka alleges that an adviser to Civic Democrat chairman Miroslav Topolanek offered him a bribe of 10 million crowns, the equivalent of about 300,000 euros, to vote against the government coalition of which he is a member.

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus arrived in London on Monday for a two-day visit that will also include talks with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. On Monday, Mr Klaus had lunch with Prince Andrew, then he met Czech veterans of World War II at Westminster Abbey before heading to a reception with Czechs living in Britain and a dinner in the City financial district. He also met Britain's Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, during the day, ahead of meetings on Tuesday with Tony Blair, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and the opposition Conservative leader Michael Howard. The visit is the first to Britain for President Klaus since the Czech Republic joined the European Union in May this year.

The Brno Regional court has started hearing the case of 41-year-old Jana Burdova from Znojmo, south Moravia, who is suspected of organising child prostitution in 2000-2003, which involved four girls aged from 7 to 16, including her own daughters. Men from nearby Austria were the girls' most frequent clients. If found guilty, Ms Burdova faces up to 12 years in prison. According to experts, child prostitution is one of the Czech Republic's chief problems in the security area. It occurs mainly in border regions and in Prague. The country has been repeatedly criticised by various foreign institutions in this respect.

Security measures imposed against potential terrorist attacks will soon threaten our basic freedoms, Czech President Vaclav Klaus said on Sunday. Speaking in a discussion programme on the TV station Nova, he said the use of cameras and other systems that will monitor our every step was a "frightening price to pay" for security. Some security measures will be necessary, but it is imperative that they are reasonable, Mr Klaus said, adding that the long-term solution was to focus on where and why terrorism develops.