Christian Democrats fail to pick presidential candidate

Christian Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek has told journalists after a party meeting on Monday that no agreement had been reached in Christian Democrat ranks on a candidate for next year's presidential election. He added that talks would continue with the leaders of other parties including the Social Democrats on possibly fielding a joint candidate to challenge the current incumbent Vaclav Klaus. Mr Cunek also said that his party would not be seeking an "anti-Klaus candidate at all costs" but would be looking for "a candidate enjoying the confidence of most Czech citizens."