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| Czech PM Petr Necas to resign over aide scandal | Czech PM Petr Necas to resign over aide scandal |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas is due to resign in the coming hours, in an effort to end political turmoil over a corruption inquiry. | |
| His ruling coalition will try to form a new government led by someone nominated by his Civic Democratic Party (ODS). | His ruling coalition will try to form a new government led by someone nominated by his Civic Democratic Party (ODS). |
| Mr Necas announced he would quit after prosecutors charged his chief of staff with corruption and abuse of power. | |
| Two former MPs, an ex-minister and the current and former heads of military intelligence were also detained. | |
| All except one have been remanded in custody. | All except one have been remanded in custody. |
| President Milos Zeman has said the charges, brought after armed police raids on government and private offices on Wednesday, were "serious". | |
| Up to 150m koruna (£5m; $8m) in cash, tens of kilograms of gold and large quantities of documents were seized during the raids. | Up to 150m koruna (£5m; $8m) in cash, tens of kilograms of gold and large quantities of documents were seized during the raids. |
| 'Nothing dishonest' | 'Nothing dishonest' |
| Detectives say that the prime minister's chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, is suspected of bribing the former MPs with offers of posts in state-owned firms. It is alleged this was in exchange for them giving up their parliamentary seats. | |
| Ms Nagyova - a close colleague of Mr Necas for nearly a decade - is also suspected of illegally ordering military intelligence to spy on three people. | Ms Nagyova - a close colleague of Mr Necas for nearly a decade - is also suspected of illegally ordering military intelligence to spy on three people. |
| Czech media reported that the targets included Mr Necas's wife, Radka Necasova. Mr Necas announced this week that they were divorcing. | Czech media reported that the targets included Mr Necas's wife, Radka Necasova. Mr Necas announced this week that they were divorcing. |
| Mr Necas has rejected all the accusations against Ms Nagyova and the other five accused, saying: "I am personally convinced that I did not do anything dishonest and that my colleagues have not done anything dishonest either." | Mr Necas has rejected all the accusations against Ms Nagyova and the other five accused, saying: "I am personally convinced that I did not do anything dishonest and that my colleagues have not done anything dishonest either." |
| However, he told a televised briefing in Prague when announcing his resignation on Sunday evening: "I am aware of my political responsibility." | However, he told a televised briefing in Prague when announcing his resignation on Sunday evening: "I am aware of my political responsibility." |
| "I will tender my resignation as prime minister tomorrow." he said. "The entire government will therefore resign with me." | "I will tender my resignation as prime minister tomorrow." he said. "The entire government will therefore resign with me." |
| The opposition Social Democrats had warned they would press for a no-confidence motion in parliament unless Mr Necas stepped down, and the two other parties in his centre-right coalition had signalled that they could no longer support him. | The opposition Social Democrats had warned they would press for a no-confidence motion in parliament unless Mr Necas stepped down, and the two other parties in his centre-right coalition had signalled that they could no longer support him. |
| The prime minister said the coalition would try to form a new government, led by a different person, to rule until elections scheduled for June 2014. He is expected to stay on as caretaker until it is installed. | The prime minister said the coalition would try to form a new government, led by a different person, to rule until elections scheduled for June 2014. He is expected to stay on as caretaker until it is installed. |
| Under the Czech constitution, President Zeman - a political rival - is under no obligation to respect the coalition's wishes, and could name his own candidate to head an interim government until early elections are held, | Under the Czech constitution, President Zeman - a political rival - is under no obligation to respect the coalition's wishes, and could name his own candidate to head an interim government until early elections are held, |
| Mr Necas also said on Sunday he would resign as his party's chairman. | Mr Necas also said on Sunday he would resign as his party's chairman. |
| "I am fully aware how the twists and turns of my personal life are burdening the Czech political scene and the Civic Democratic Party," he told the briefing. | "I am fully aware how the twists and turns of my personal life are burdening the Czech political scene and the Civic Democratic Party," he told the briefing. |
| BBC Prague correspondent Rob Cameron says the admission is the closest the prime minister has come to confirming that the woman at the heart of this scandal - Ms Nagyova - is more than just a colleague. | BBC Prague correspondent Rob Cameron says the admission is the closest the prime minister has come to confirming that the woman at the heart of this scandal - Ms Nagyova - is more than just a colleague. |
| After four days of stress and exhaustion, for the first time Mr Necas looked relaxed, almost relieved, on Sunday, our correspondent notes. | |
| His party colleagues standing alongside him did not. One of them will now step forward to replace him - to lead a beleaguered party, a fractious coalition, and an unpopular government. Petr Necas, meanwhile, can begin sorting out his life. |