Czech villagers vote against US defence shield

More than 1,000 villagers voted on Saturday against a planned US radar base which could be built near their homes. Residents from the villages of Hvozdany, Tyne and Zajecov overwhelmingly rejected the project. In Hvozdany, 381 of the village's 409 voters said they opposed the move. In another two referenda also held on Saturday, an overwhelming majority of voters from Zajecov and Tyne voiced their opposition. The results of the referenda are however not binding for the Czech government, which will take a final decision after the issue is put to vote in parliament, probably at the start of next year. The votes were held 48 hours before US President George W. Bush arrives in Prague on a two-day visit, which will largely be dominated by the issue.