Czech nationalist leader to run for president from behind bars

A Czech nationalist politician who's currently in jail has announced his intention to run against the president, Vaclav Havel, in elections to be held next week.

The leader of the far-right Republican party, Miroslav Sladek, has been in prison since earlier this year on charges of inciting racial hatred.

Correspondents say he will be easily defeated by Mr Havel.

The only other contender is an astrophysicist supported by the Communist Party.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service