Press Review

Two issues dominate today's dailies - whether Czech troops will take part in a possible war against Iraq, and who will succeed Vaclav Havel as president, after a first presidential vote on Wednesday proved inconclusive.

On its front page LIDOVE NOVINY reports that former Social Democrat leader Milos Zeman, is lobbying for support ahead of a second presidential vote. Mr Zeman is said to be trying to win the support of the Communist Party, though he is refusing to talk to journalists until after his party chooses their candidate on Saturday, reports the daily.

The current leader of the Social Democrats, Vladimir Spidla, is asked by PRAVO whether he supported Milos Zeman's presidential bid. He gives a two-word answer - "no comment". As to whether, as many commentators have suggested, his position has been weakened recently, Mr Spidla replies in the negative, saying that it is only two months to the next Social Democrat party conference, and that no party is calm before a conference.

A day after Prague metro stations Staromestska and Malostranska reopened, MLADA FRONTA DNES's Prague section carries a photo taken at the former. In places, many of the large coloured wall tiles which make the Prague underground so distinctive have yet to be replaced, revealing many thick, grey and dirty-looking cables. The two stations had been closed since last August's floods.

As the government tries to persuade Czechs to vote for European Union membership ahead of a June referendum on the issue, LIDOVE NOVINY says some surprising figures will feature in its campaign. Among images to be used in advertising material are the Czech cartoon character Krtek, or Mole, Josef Lada figures and, would you believe it, the Simpsons. But will the prime minister give us a Homer Simpson-like "Doh!" if the referendum isn't passed?!

Regular listeners will no doubt be familiar with the name of President Vaclav Havel's spokesman Ladislav Spacek. As Mr Havel retires, Mr Spacek has also been considering his future, and reports LIDOVE NOVINY, is planning to lecture at Charles University on marketing and public relations and to work as a freelance image consultant.

As for Mr Havel himself, LIDOVE NOVINY'S Friday colour supplement carries a series of wonderful photos of the outgoing president. He is shown with scantily clad dancers in Rio de Janeiro, stretching at the breakfast table in his pyjamas and fooling around with friends at his "Hradecek" cottage in the mid-1970s. HOSPODARSKE NOVINY had the same idea: among their photos is one of Mr Havel and the Rolling Stones in 1990, and one from the same year with the president wearing a sweatshirt which reads "a future of freedom".

One of the things the average tourist dislikes most about Prague city centre is the prostitutes on the streets, writes MLADA FRONTA DNES, adding that they are likely to be plying their wares on the city's pavements for some time to come (the prostitutes not the tourists). Deputy mayor Rudolf Blazek tells the daily he is hoping city hall will approve measures against street prostitution, which can then be forwarded to parliament.

"Czechs shock Melbourne" reads the front page headline in the daily SPORT, above a story detailing Czech successes at the Australian Open. The little known Klara Koukalova knocked out sixth seed Monika Seles, while Radek Stepanek beat Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, in what MLADA FRONTA DNES describes as a "tennis fantasy".