Presidential candidate Bures admits to knocking down pedestrian

Social Democrat presidential candidate Jaroslav Bures admitted to Czech newspapers on Friday that he had knocked down and killed an 85-year-old pedestrian in 1983. Police at the time found Mr Bures innocent of any wrongdoing. The revelation comes only days after he was accused of lying when he claimed that as a judge and communist party member in the 1980s he had ruled in favour of a political dissident. Mr Bures is one of four candidates standing in next Wednesday's vote by both houses of parliament to find a successor to President Vaclav Havel, who steps down on February 2 after 13 years in office.

Author: Ian Willoughby