Insight Central Europe News

Three Czech journalists kidnapped in Iraq have been released

Three Czech journalists kidnapped in Iraq last Sunday have been released and are now safe at the Czech embassy in Baghdad. Czech TV's Michal Kubal, cameraman Petr Klima, and Czech Radio correspondent Vit Pohanka, were kidnapped by insurgents while en route to Amman, Jordan last Sunday, suffering an intense six days captive at the hands of unknown assailants. Before this Friday's breakthrough release Czech diplomatic authorities had tried in vain to establish contact with the insurgents. Correspondent Vit Pohanka and Michal Kubal spoke with Czech Radio this afternoon saying all three were in good condition and ready to return to the Czech Republic. They also "apologised" for the worries and heartache caused to their friends and loved ones at home.

Polish military fears in Iraq

Cracks appeared this week in the Polish-American coalition in Iraq, as Polish military officials said it would be a mistake for US-led occupying forces to enter the mainly Shi'ite city of Najaf by force. Poland currently has nearly two-and-a-half thousand troops in Iraq, based in the Shi'ite dominated south-central zone.

Hungary remembers Holocaust victims

Hungary this week remembered its 600,000 citizens killed in Nazi concentration camps during World War Two. The deportation of Hungarian Jews started on April 16th, 60 years ago. On the eve of the anniversary, President Ferenc Madl and Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy opened the Holocaust Memorial Centre in a reconstructed Budapest synagogue. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the visiting Israeli President, Moshe Katsav.

Second round of Slovak election under way

Slovaks have been voting this weekend in the second round of presidential elections. The two candidates in the second round are former Prime Minister, Vladimir Meciar, and his one-time ally, Ivan Gasparovic. The government candidate, Eduard Kukan was unexpectedly knocked out of the race in the first round two weeks ago. Whichever candidate wins, the centre-right government of Prime Minister, Mikulas Dzurinda, will find itself weakened, facing a political opponent as head of state. Dzurinda has been coming under growing pressure to resign after Slovakia's accession to the European Union on the 1st May.

Czech President on historic trip to China

The Czech President Vaclav Klaus has begun an eleven-day state visit to China. This is the first visit by a Czech head of state to Beijing since the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989. The trip is expected to consolidate trade between the two countries, which is expanding rapidly. A number of human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have called on President Klaus to bring up the issue of China's poor human-rights record during his visit.