Vsetin mayor defends his policy

The controversial Christian Democrat mayor of Vsetin Jiri Cunek has defended his policy to evict several hundred Romany rent-defaulters from the town centre. Mr. Cunek's statement to the media that he was "cleaning an ulcer" has provoked controversy and raised the ire of his own party, whose leadership has distanced itself from the statement and is considering expelling him from party ranks. Mr. Cunek defended his words and actions in Friday's edition of Lidove Noviny saying that he had strong backing among the local community and that his critics were talking "a load of drivel" about a problem they knew nothing about.