ODS deputy Miroslav Tosler, involved in a scandal in
which an Opava entrepreneur was allegedly forced to make a donation to the
ODA, must tender his resignation. Also on 14 February, the ODA Central
Assembly ruled that Tosler can stay on pending clarification of the
allegations. Skalicky reacted by saying that if Tosler does not resign, he
will do so. MS
IRAQIS SEEK TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS IN PRAGUE. Iraq has been attempting to
recruit Czechs for an international volunteer force, AFP reported on 14
February, citing CTK. An agent of the Czech counter-espionage service (BIS)
said there is an ongoing investigation into the issue. Ludvik Zifcak, a
former officer in the communist secret police and now owner of the weekly
"Nove Bruntalsko," had recently published an advertisement titled "Hands
off Iraq." Eighteen Czechs were said to have been recruited followingthe
appearance of the advertisement. "Lidove Noviny" reported that the BIS and
military intelligence officers were also investigating five Iraqis who were
arrested last week in Prague without identification papers on them, as part
of increased security measures adopted in the wake of the Iraqi crisis. MS
MECIAR TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT? Tibor Cabaj, the chairman of Vladimir Meciar's
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia's parliamentary faction, said he has
spoken to the premier about his intention to propose Meciar's candidacy for
president and that he has "received [Meciar's] agreement," Reuters reported
on 13 February, citing TASR. Another round of the presidential elections is
scheduled for 5 March. Meciar would need nine votes from the opposition to
have the required three-fifths majority. Reuters said he is unlikely to
receive those votes because of the growing animosity between the two camps.
In other