News

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the closure of the visa and consular affairs section of its embassy in Yemen until further notice in the face of the increased threat of attack. The embassy itself is still functioning. The Czech move follows similar steps taken by other countries such as the US, France and Britain.

Yemen has come under the spotlight in recent days following reports that the man suspected of trying to blow up a US passenger plane over Christmas was trained by radical Islamists there. The Yemen government is trying to counter separatist and terrorist movements linked to Al Qaeda.

Speakers of the two Czech chambers of parliament have called for elections to the lower house to be held before the end of May. Their call came following a New Year’s meeting with Czech President Václav Klaus on Tuesday. President Klaus said on Monday that he favoured calling a vote at the latest possible date, on May 28 -29.

But speaker of the upper house, Přemysl Sobotka, said he would prefer the vote a week earlier. His lower house counterpart, Miloslav Vlček, suggested the date should be around May 15. They argue an earlier election would give more time for a new government based on a political mandate to replace the current caretaker administration. One of the main tasks of the new government will be to decide on a budget for 2011.

Czech farmers have launched a campaign to support the purchase of locally grown products and counter inroads made by imports. Struggling dairy farmers will be the first to benefit with a campaign for milk products. A campaign backing local meat is likely to follow. The campaign which largely features billboards, leaflets and internet ads, is being paid for by farmers themselves and from donations. Czech farmers last year staged protests against the low prices they were being paid for their products with milk sprayed on fields.

The death toll from an explosion at a rubber plant in the north-east of the country has risen to two with two still in hospital suffering serious injuries. The explosion at the Avon Automotive Plant which produces rubber parts for cars occurred on Monday morning. Police said on Tuesday that it would take several weeks to investigate the explosion. Production at the US-owned factory which employs around 380 has been halted.