Christian Democrat leader says police are controlled by politicians

The leader of the Christian Democrats, Miroslav Kalousek, criticised Czech Police Chief Jiri Kolar in a TV discussion programme on Sunday and said the police are politically controlled. Last week, the police chief admitted that widespread bugging was normal police practice and added that it is nothing to concern people with a clear conscience.

In reaction to his remarks, President Vaclav Klaus and opposition Civic Democratic Party deputies have called on Mr Kolar to resign. While Mr Kalousek agrees, he notes Mr Kolar's resignation will not make a difference as the whole police force is politically controlled and the country's interior ministers have done nothing about it.