Prague  - The new Israeli government is prepared to respect a two-state solution in its conflict with the Palestinians, former Czech president Vaclav Havel was reported saying Tuesday after meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Havel said Peres provided the assurances after Havel expressed concerns that the new Israeli government will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state because the new Israeli government's coalition includes parties which have rejected compromises toward the Palestinians.

Prague - Three spectators were killed Saturday when a vehicle crashed into the audience at a car race in north-eastern Czech Republic, the race organizers said.

The Slovak race driver slid in a curve near the town of Stramberk, which sent him off the race track and into the spectators, local reports said.

The victims included a 38-year-old father and his 13-year-old son, the CTK news agency reported citing a police spokeswoman.

The driver was rushed to a hospital with a slight injury, a race spokesman said in a statement.

Prague - The leaders of the Czech Republic's two major rival political parties, outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and Social Democratic head Jiri Paroubek, agreed to hold early elections, government officials said Saturday.

"They met and agreed on early elections," Topolanek's spokeswoman, Jana Bartosova, told the German Press Agency dpa.

However, the spokeswoman would not comment on Czech media reports suggesting a general election could take place in October.

Prague - Political talks in Prague on Friday left chances open for outgoing Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek to complete his term at the European Union's helm under a "restructured" cabinet.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus and opposition Social Democratic leader Jiri Paroubek, whose party ousted the government, debated an option of swearing in a "partially" reconstructed Topolanek cabinet, Klaus' office said in a statement.

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.

Czech media reported on Friday that Topolanek had told a television show that "AC/DC played in Prague last week. And their cult song 'Highway to Hell' may have prompted me to use 'road to hell'."