Czech TV leader urged to quit

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman has urged the controversial chief of Czech public television to quit during a parliamentary debate on how to deal with the ongoing crisis.

Staffers at Czech Television have been holed up in their newsroom since December 20, demanding the sacking of chief Jiri Hodac because of his ties to political leaders, particularly former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus.

During parliament's session Zeman accused President Vaclav Havel of encouraging a violation of the law by supporting the striking staff.

Havel rejected the accusations as unfounded.

In earlier statements, Zeman supported Hodac, but was reported on Thursday to have changed his mind, which he confirmed in parliament.

"I support the dismissal of general director Hodac, although I used to be against it," said Zeman, blaming Hodac' s recent "managerial mistakes."

Zeman cited Hodac's choice of a financial director with close ties to a controversial bank and the fact that he took the station off the air for a whole day on December 27.

To deal with the crisis, lawmakers could either fire the panel that appointed Hodac, ask it to dismiss him, or appeal to the dissident staff to abide by the law and give up their protest.

The parliament session was called at the request of deputies from two opposition parties who support the rebellious journalists.

The strikers insist they are defending freedom of speech and the media. Thousands of Czechs have rallied to support their appeals for an independent station.

Havel earlier said Hodac's appointment may have been legal but violated "the sense and spirit" of the media law and called for the director's resignation.

In Friday's statement, he said, "Maybe the procedure in this case was in accordance with the letter of the law, but it stands against its meaning, its spirit. That is very dangerous."

Earlier Friday, Klaus, the parliamentary speaker, appealed to all political parties to "seek things we have in common," and try to "return credibility to Czech Television."

Hodac, meanwhile, remained hospitalised in an intensive-care unit at Prague's Motol Hospital, after he collapsed at home. He was listed in serious condition, though he improved overnight, said Jana Bobosikova, a Hodac deputy.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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