Prague - The Czech government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek collapsed Tuesday after it lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament midway through the country's presidency of the European Union.
The leftist opposition was helped by four lawmakers elected to Topolanek's ruling coalition in toppling the cabinet by the slimmest of majorities, 101 votes.
Topolanek collected 96 votes in the 200-seat lower house after failing to meet the renegades' demands in last-minute talks. Three lawmakers were absent from the vote.
Prague - Mirek Topolanek, the Czech Republic's humbled premier, has conceded that his ill-timed remark suggesting the United States' measures to battle the global economic crisis would lead to "a road to hell" were inspired by heavy metal band AC/DC.
Hluboka Castle, Czech Republic - EU foreign ministers were set to meet Friday in a 13th century castle in the Czech Republic to discuss ways of helping the United States defeat the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.
Prague - Czech President Vaclav Klaus said Thursday he preferred to find a quick but lasting solution to the political crisis, rather than keep outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in a caretaker role until the end of Prague's stint as president of the European Union.
Prague - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is to submit his government's resignation to President Vaclav Klaus on Thursday, two days after his cabinet failed a parliamentary confidence test half way through its presidency of the European Union.
