NGOs call for Klaus apology

Almost 90 non-government organisations in the Czech Republic have asked Czech President Vaclav Klaus to apologise for statements made last month categorising non-government organisations - or NGOs - as "dangerous" to democracy. The NGOs have sent the president a letter outlining their appeal. But, the president's spokesman said on Monday the document had not yet been received. Jan Bouchal, from the association which initiated the appeal, has said that the non-profit organisations and their members have stated clearly that they disapprove of President Klaus's opinion, defending citizens' rights to interfere in public developments and decision-making. NGO members first protested the president's remarks in May, when at the Council of Europe summit in Warsaw, he described what he called "post-democracy" as involving pressure from non-governmental organisations to influence individuals' lives. In his view - without a proper mandate.