Czech tv blackouts end

Officials at Czech state television have stopped blacking out news broadcasts produced by journalists protesting against the appointment of Jiri Hodac as the station's new director.

The rebel journalists have been occupying the newsroom in Prague for the past two weeks.

The station's head of news, Jana Bobosikova -- who is loyal to Mr Hodac -- said she had been advised that the blackouts were illegal.

But the BBC's Prague correspondent says the decision gives the rebel staff a major victory in the battle for control of the station.

Opponents of Mr Hodac have received backing from President Vaclav Havel and small opposition parties, which say he is too closely linked to the right-wing former prime minister, Vaclav Klaus. The Czech parliament has also approved a resolution calling for his dismissal.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service