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The annual meeting of the World Bank and the IMF concluded in Prague on Wednesday night, a day earlier than planned. What was the outcome of the meeting? And does the Prague session mark the beginning of a new era of openness for the Bretton Woods institutions? attended the final press conference on Thursday morning.

Last week saw the international premiere of the Czech film "Samotari", in English "Loners", which has already enjoyed great success here in the Czech Republic. Today, speaks to Samotari director David Ondricek, but first there's a short taste of the film, in which one of the main characters describes his painful break-up with his girlfriend:

Talks of the kind that Mr Manuel is calling for have been under way in Prague this week at a two-day forum in one of Prague's Protestant churches. attended the event:

While the streets around Prague's Congress Centre witnessed violent clashes, World Bank and IMF delegates on the other side of the barricades were doing their best to carry on as normal, only catching glimpses of the fighting through windows and from the balconies of the Centre. The official IMF and World Bank meeting began on Tuesday morning, addressed by Czech President Havel, and the chiefs of both organizations. Their talks covered several of the issues that have fired the passions of protestors, and many delegates have given a nod of acknowledgement

There has been a great deal of international media attention focused on the violent clashes between anarchist protestors and police officers in Prague on Tuesday, providing extensive footage of rioting demonstrators. caught up with some protesters on Namesti Miru in the centre of Prague on Wednesday morning to find out their reactions to the violence:

Prague's Congress Centre is hosting a meeting of over 15,000 financiers, bankers and policy makers from all over the world. They have arrived in the Czech capital for the annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank. Czech President Vaclav Havel opened the whole event on Tuesday morning. attended the opening ceremony and he is now with me in the studio. Delegates had actually been bused in early this morning under the cover of darkness; Vladimir, how difficult was it to get in?

September the 26th was declared a Global Day of Action by many groups opposed to the IMF and World Bank. Obviously, the protests planned for the Czech capital were the ones which received the most media hype. Radio Prague's has been with the protesters since early this morning and I asked him if the estimates of 15,000 protesters had materialised?

Meanwhile, back on the other side of the river, Prague saw the first major demonstration against the policies of the IMF and the World Bank. It was organised by Jubilee 2000, one of the most active and probably most respected groups opposed to the two institutions. Jubilee 2000 wants the IMF and World Bank to cancel 100 percent of the national debt of 22 of the world's most poorest nations--something which the two groups say is impossible. reports:

The decline of the Euro and spiralling oil prices. Not surprisingly these were top of the agenda when finance ministers and national bank governors from the G7 group of the world's most developed economies gathered in Prague over the weekend. As reports, they tried to deliver an optimistic message on both topics, and at the same time were able to breathe a sigh of relief at keeping well out of the line of fire of globalisation protestors currently flocking to Prague.