PM lashes out at journalists

The Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, has lashed out at journalists accusing them of bias, betrayal and corrupt practices and calling for a law which would regulate press freedom. At his regular Monday press briefing the prime minister verbally attacked individual members of the press saying that they had attempted to blackmail him by threatening to write whatever they wanted if he did not answer their questions. He said some of the articles delving into his private life were scandalous and had clearly been commissioned by his main rival opposition leader Jiri Paroubek and he accused the press of buying classified information from the police. The prime minister said that while he was inclined to be broad minded the present circumstances called for a law which would regulate press freedom.