BBC News Online: World: Europe

New Czech government sworn in

The Czech President, Vaclav Havel, has sworn in a new government, so ending a month-long political crisis.

The new government - a three-party coalition - is led by Josef Tosovsky, the former governor of the Czech central bank.

Several key ministers have survived from the outgoing cabinet of Vaclav Klaus, including the Finance Minister, Ivan Pilip, and Jaroslav Sedivy who has been appointed Foreign Minister.Mr Klaus resigned over a party funding scandal last month.

Mr Tosovsky said his priorities would be economic reform and privatisation, fighting crime and negotiating for Czech membership of NATO and the European Union.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service