Press Review

Unsurprisingly, today's front pages are dominated by photos of allied soldiers in action in Iraq, firing missiles or watching bomb blasts over Iraqi cities in the distance. Headlines in most papers inform readers that Iraq has been putting up unexpected resistance, only MLADA FRONTA DNES is optimistic, saying that "the Americans are approaching Baghdad".

Today's PRAVO carries a cartoon somewhat bitterly satirising the omnipresence and vulturine sensation-hunting of world media in Iraq. "I missed that, could you kill him again for me?" a TV cameraman tells a US trooper standing over a corpse of an Iraqi soldier in the desert.

Commenting on the wide media coverage of the war, MLADA FRONTA DNES says the overwhelming stream of news can actually kill the truth. The paper advises its readers to take all information on the war with a pinch of salt because much of it comes from well running propaganda machines on both sides of the conflict.

The business daily HOSPODARSKE NOVINY analyses the impact of the development of the war in Iraq on capital markets worldwide. Investors still believe the war will be short. If this is the case, markets can expect a fresh wave of capital and oil prices will stabilize. However, news of stiff Iraqi resistance coming from the front makes investors somewhat more cautious and some analysts warn that any major losses on the US side or the use of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq could send the markets plunging down.

Back to PRAVO, and if you open it on page six you will find a photo of Czech president Vaclav Klaus, wearing sunglasses, holding up a gun and talking about Iraq. No, the Czechs are not going to war, Mr. Klaus was only firing the starting shot of the Prague Half-Marathon, saying he wished such races could soon take place in warn-torn Iraq, too.

Away from Iraq, and LIDOVE NOVINY reports that the Social Democrat cabinet's plan to improve the health of the nation is being taken a step forward. After government projects to prevent suicides, make people quit smoking and drink less, Health Minister Marie Souckova has come up with a proposal to introduce annual medical check ups for all people over 40, aimed at early detection of various forms of cancer. Until now, some doctors have been doing such check-ups on their own initiative. However, LIDOVE NOVINY, notes, under Mrs. Souckova's plan they would be made compulsory.