Prague - The opposition Social Democratic Party issued a shockingly heavy blow to Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in the Czech Republic's regional and Senate elections, final results showed Saturday. 

As a consequence Topolanek's position as a party leader and possibly as a premier looked shaky just 10 weeks before his country takes over the European Union's rotating presidency. 

The Social Democrats took all 13 regions where voting took place, their first such success since 2000 when regions came to existence, the Czech Statistical Office said. 

Prague - As the last votes in regional and Senate elections in the Czech Republic were counted Saturday, the opposition Social Democratic Party looked as if they had issued a heavy blow to Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.

"The voters want change," Social Democratic leader Jiri Paroubek told the public broadcaster Czech Television.

The Social Democrats took all 13 regions where voting took place, their first such success since 2000.

Klagenfurt, Austria - Karin Zloebl started crying when she spoke of Joerg Haider, the late far-right leader who was commemorated Saturday in an elaborate public ceremony in the town of Klagenfurt.

"It is very, very hard," she said about the death of the governor of the Carinthia province, who had personally helped her son find a job.

Berlin - Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) formally approved its leadership slate to take it into next year's federal elections at a party meeting in Berlin Saturday.

The party approved Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as its candidate for chancellor, with 95.13 per cent of the vote. He will oppose incumbent Angela Merkel, of the Christian Democrats, in the September 29, 2009 election.

"If I have your trust, then I am ready," he said ahead of the vote. He promised to make Germany "better and more humane."

Harare - A month after the sig