Czech TV dispute continues

Staff at the Czech state television station are continuing to occupy studios and disrupt broadcasts in protest at the appointment of a new general director, Jiri Hodac.

The television workers say Mr Hodac has close ties with the opposition Civic Democrat party and therefore cannot be politically impartial.

Protesting journalists tried to broadcast a news bulletin on Thursday evening, but the programme was interrupted after only thirty seconds by a statement saying the material was not authorised.

The Czech broadcasting authorities have already ruled that Mr Hodac is legally in charge of the station.

But President Vaclav Havel and Prime Minister Milos Zeman have expressed support for the protesting journalists.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service