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Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has revealed that the Czech government may try and sell North Bohemia's Severoceske doly brown-coal mine after it completes the privatisation of Vitkovice Steel and Karlovy Vary's Thermal Hotel. Mr Sobotka, however, suggested that - on the whole - large privatisation deals in this election term were over. Since 2002 the Social Democrat-led government sold oil and chemicals group Unipetrol as well as the fixed-line giant Cesky Telecom. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Mr Sobotka rejected speculation over the privatisation of power producer CEZ, Czech Airlines and the Czech Post, saying such sales were unrealistic and would not even be "kicked-off" at this time.

Footballer Milan Baros has been named to the line-up for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final which will see Baros' Liverpool face off against Chelsea. Liverpool is considered the underdog in the match-up, but could benefit from the Czech striker's speed. Baros had been doubtful for the match after receiving a minor knee injury in a league game at the weekend.

On Tuesday officials in Azerbaijan blocked its citizen Saday Nazarov from departing for Prague from Baku's airport, even though Mr Nazarov enjoys political asylum in the Czech Republic and has a valid refugee passport. Mr Nazarov, a former government advisor in his home country, was first detained in Azerbaijan in January - charged with "high treason". He had travelled to his homeland to visit his father, who was seriously ill. Mr Nazarov's return to the Czech Republic was expected Tuesday when it was planned he would meet with Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda. The Foreign Ministry has expressed hope that his case will now be resolved and that Azerbaijani officials will allow Mr Nazarov to return to Prague in one day's time.

Police in the west Bohemian region of Cheb have admitted for the first time that cases of child prostitution in the area are more widespread than previously revealed. Detective Jiri Istavnik told public broadcaster Czech TV that police in the area had investigated 7 cases of sexual abuse of minors by visiting tourists since 1997. Police also cited 60 cases in which youths' moral upbringing had been put under threat. Last week the subject of child prostitution again made headlines after a German television reporter from Pro 7 taped secret footage of a 12-year-old girl being offered for sexual favours. Until now police in Cheb had denied child prostitution in the area had gone beyond the isolated case.

The respected Czech science fiction author Josef Nesvadba has died at the age of 78. Mr Nesvadba's family made the announcement on Tuesday without disclosing further details. Josef Nesvadba's death comes as a blow to the Czech sci-fi literature scene which he so influenced in the 1960s and 1980s, continuing in the philosophical footsteps of Czech writers like Karel Capek and Jiri Weiss. His many works include "Einstein's Brain" and "Hell Benes" (2002) - his final book.

In 2003 Mr Nesvadba was a key guest at the annual Prague Writer's Festival, where he debated the nature of speculative fiction with colleague and fellow sci-fi writer Ondrej Neff.

Social Democrat MP Jan Kavan has told Czech Radio he knows of "around" five Social Democrat members of parliament who may choose not to support the new government led by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek. The government must face a confidence vote within 30 days. Mr Kavan told Czech Radio that he and colleague Vladimir Lastuvka would vote in favour of the new government if the Social Democrats were allowed a greater hand in foreign policy. But currently the Foreign Ministry falls under the jurisdiction of the Christian Democrats. The new prime minister, aware of Mr Kavan's and the other MPs' reservations, reminded them that if the current government fell it would lead only to early elections.

President Vaclav Klaus accepted the resignation of Stanislav Gross as Prime Minister on Monday, ending weeks of political crisis. The Cabinet was also dissolved, as is required by the Constitution, when a prime minister resigns. Before tendering his official resignation, Mr Gross' party, the Social Democrats, and their coalition partners, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union, signed a deal for a new government. The incoming prime minister is Jiri Paroubek, a vice chairman of the Social Democratic party who was the Regional Development Minister in the previous government.

Stanislav Gross, a former interior minister, had led the government since last July; he remains Social Democrat party chairman. Calls for Mr Gross' resignation came after media coverage revealed that he had spent more to buy his Prague apartment than he could have afforded on a government salary. Mr Gross had offered several, contradictory explanations of how he had paid for the apartment. The controversial business dealings of his wife had also become a political issue.

President Vaclav Klaus said on Monday after naming Jiri Paroubek to his new post that he expects the lower house of Parliament to hold a vote of confidence on the new government as soon as possible. The incoming prime minister has said that his government - as per agreement of the three coalition parties - will focus on pushing through pension reform, lower taxes on employees, new bankruptcy and conflict-of-interest laws, and the 2006 state budget. Another top priority is the ratification of the draft European Constitution.

Speaking on the same programme Communist Deputy Chairman Vojtech Filip outlined conditions under which the Communist Party might back the new government in a confidence vote. He said the Communists will reconsider their stance if the new coalition ties the vote to proposed legislation on the "declaration of property", a bill monitoring property ownership. Outgoing Prime Minister Stanislav Gross indicated that some form of declaration of property will be part of proposed legislation on "the conflict of interest". It is not clear whether such legislation would apply retroactively. Mr Gross stressed the new law would have to stand up in Constitutional Court.

On Sunday outgoing Prime Minister Stanislav Gross sided with two leading members of the European Parliament over a row that erupted between the two and President Vaclav Klaus earlier in the week. The two EP members, EP vice-president Alejo Vidal-Quadras and EP Constitutional Committee head Jo Leinen, drew fire from Mr Klaus after they criticised him for his stance on the EU constitutional treaty. On Sunday, the Czech prime minister backed their argument by saying that some of the statements Mr Klaus had made about the treaty were "misleading".

The outgoing prime minister also criticised the president for his reaction in the row, which he sees as inappropriate. Mr Klaus has said he took offence to the MEP's words as the head of state of a sovereign EU country. He is currently expecting to receive an official apology.