Ceremony held to mark anniversary of 1968 invasion

Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek and other state dignitaries have attended a special ceremony in front of the Czech Radio building to mark the 39th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Speaking at the event, Mr Topolanek praised the heroism of those who stood up to the Warsaw Pact troops, whose invasion of Czechosovakia ended efforts to establish a more liberal form of socialism in this country.

The prime minister also said it was important to remember the lessons learned from the fate of the so-called Prague Spring to ensure that such events were never repeated. He also paid tribute to Czechoslovak Radio for truthfully informing the people about what was happening in this country during the invasion. The Czech Radio building in Prague was the scene of some of the heaviest clashes between Soviet troops and Czech protesters during August 1968.