Benesova will not stand for president

Former supreme state attorney Marie Benesova has said she will not be standing against President Vaclav Klaus in next year's presidential elections. Ms Benesova's name had been mentioned in the media as a possible opposition candidate for the post, especially as Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek said that his party was considering a number of candidates for the elections next February.

The Social Democrats are currently in negotiations with the Communists, the Greens and the Christian Democrats about fielding a possible joint candidate to stand against Mr Klaus. So far only the name of former Czech foreign minister Jiri Dienstbier has been specifically mentioned as a possible prospect.