Council considers sacking call

Mr Zeman has been critical of all sides in the TV dispute

The council of Czech Television (CT) is reported to be divided over whether to accept a call by parliament to sack the controversial new director-general, Jiri Hodac.

I consider [the resolution] to be political pressure ... I cannot exclude that there will not be enough votes for dismissal

Czech Television Council Miroslav Mares

TV journalists have been occupying studios and blacking out news broadcasts in protest at Mr Hodac's appointment, because they believe him that he is not politically impartial.

On Friday evening, the Czech parliament passed a motion calling on Mr Hodac to resign, after a marathon 15-hour emergency session.

Mr Hodac is undergoing medical checks after collapsing on Thursday, although colleagues said he may return to work on Monday.

Sole power

The parliamentary resolution called on the Czech Television Council, which appointed Mr Hodac in December, to dismiss him at its meeting on Monday, if he does not resign before then.

Mr Hodac: Completely exhausted

The council is an independent body, and has the sole power to appoint and dismiss the director-general.

It is dominated by appointees of the two main parties in parliament - the ruling Social Democrats and the opposition Civic Democrats (ODS).

CT staff say that Mr Hodac's appointment was made in order to advance the interests of the two parties.

The council's chairman, Miroslav Mares, said it was unclear how the body would react to the parliamentary vote.

"I consider [the resolution] to be political pressure ... I cannot exclude that there will not be enough votes for dismissal," he said.

Mr Mares was appointed by ODS.

However, a legal amendment which parliament plans to rush through in weeks would replace the current council with one whose members would be proposed by civic groups, not politicians.

'Gross errors

Withdrawing his earlier support for the station's new management, Prime Minister Milos Zeman said Mr Hodac had committed "gross errors".

Mr Klaus: Wants another emergency session

But the prime minister was equally scathing of President Vaclav Havel for backing the journalists.

"In my view, anyone - even if it is the head of state - who calls for valid laws to be broken, has no business in Czech politics," he said.

A spokesman for Mr Havel said that he would seek an apology for the statement, which was "entirely unfounded".

ODS leader and former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus said during the debate that there would be "nothing worse" for the country than "victory for an employee rebellion".

He called for another emergency session of the chamber on Friday.