News of Radio Prague

Resignation not timed to harm Civic Democrats in elections, says Mayor Kasl

The mayor of Prague, Jan Kasl, has said the timing of his resignation from the post was in no way related to the upcoming general elections. Mr Kasl announced his resignation on Tuesday, and also said that he was quitting the opposition Civic Democratic Party. He has had several high profile disputes with senior Civic Democrats, including party leader Vaclav Klaus, who called Mr Kasl's resignation a devious move. On Wednesday Prague Civic Democrat councillors accused Mr Kasl of timing his resignation in such a way as to harm the party and Mr Klaus ahead of the mid-June elections.

Czech emigres take restitution claims to European Court of Human Rights

Two Czech couples who emigrated to the United States during the communist era have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for the right to be restituted confiscated property. Joseph and Libuse Polack and Peter and Eva Gratzinger had their restitution claims turned down by the Czech state. They are arguing that the right to have property returned should not be conditional on possessing Czech citizenship. The court's ruling in the case will be announced in the autumn.

Brno police arrest man accused of air attack hoax

Police in the Czech Republic's second city Brno have arrested a man accused of being behind a hoax warning that a terrorist attack from the air would be made on a high building in the city. The police received a mobile phone text message with the warning last Thursday, and a huge security operation was mounted to prevent any possible attack on the building. Investigators said on Wednesday that the man had confessed to the hoax, saying he had done it because he did not like the police.

Former head of National Property Fund fined over false screening papers

The former head of the National Property Fund, Jan Stiess, has been fined 200,000 crowns by a Prague court for presenting false screening papers when he applied for the post in 1998. The screening, or lustration, process is designed to prevent former senior communists or secret police agents and collaborators from holding senior posts in the state administration.

Victorious Under 21 football team returns to Prague

The Czech Under 21 football team has returned from the European Under 21 Championships in Switzerland, where they won the title for the first time ever on Tuesday night with a victory over France on penalties. Jubilant fans greeted the team as they arrived home in Prague on Wednesday afternoon.

Weather

Thursday should be partially cloudy with occasional showers. The maximum daytime temperature should be 20 degrees Celsius.