Svoboda, Simonovsky resign from high party posts

Outgoing Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda and outgoing Transport Minister Milan Simonovsky, both deputy chairmen of the Christian Democratic Party, have resigned from their party posts. They did so amid a tense atmosphere in the party caused by the negotiations last week between party chairman Miroslav Kalousek and the Social Democrats on a communist-supported government. Mr Kalousek's move met with a negative response among party members resulting in his resignation on Friday.