Social Democrat MP accused of corruption gives up influential posts

A member of parliament for the Social Democratic Party, Martin Kraus, has said he would give up two influential functions amidst allegations of corruption. Mr Kraus has been under pressure to explain why he agreed to participate in a dubious deal to buy a Ghanaian cocoa bean factory in 2001. The newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes goes as far as suspecting Mr Kraus of money laundering.

Mr Kraus says he is innocent but will give up the post of head of Parliament's budget committee and the group of Social Democrat Deputies. But he will not give up his mandate as has Civic Democrat Vladimir Dolezal, who is also accused of corruption and proclaims his innocence.