Number of newborns exceeds number of deaths in first half of 2006

According to data released on Monday by the Czech Statistical Office, the number of babies born in the first half of the year has for the first time since 1993 exceeded the number of deaths. The number of the Czech Republic's citizens rose by 17,500 in the first six months of 2006 but still mostly owing to immigration. The Czech Republic currently has 10,268,607 inhabitants.