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The United States-led war against Iraq continues to dominate the Czech press, with HOSPODARSKE NOVINY and PRAVO leading with Saddam Hussein's rejection of George Bush's ultimatum to leave the country. MLADA FRONTA DNES meanwhile asks a number of figures in public life where they stand on the issue.

All of the papers offer a detailed coverage of the latest developments in the impending war on Iraq, with emphasis on what consequences military action would have on the Czech Republic. LIDOVE NOVINY, which carries a photo across its front page of the six most important US and British army officials, also includes a one-week weather forecast for Baghdad.

As it does newspapers all over the world, one issue dominates the front pages of all the Czech dailies: the prospect of a war with Iraq. The headlines of all of the Czech newspapers declare that the diplomacy has ended and the war will be decided on today, as the United Nations Security Council votes on a resolution on Iraq.

Friday's front pages are dominated by yesterday's decision by Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla to sack Trade and Industry Minister Jiri Rusnok. Other topics making the headlines are the anonymous blackmailer who has been threatening to plant bombs in public places unless he is given 10 million crowns and the increase in the average salary, which now stands at almost 16,000 crowns.

Most dailies lead this morning with the assassination of Serbia's prime minister Zoran Djindjic, along with theories as to who was behind it. The killing has pushed most other stories into second place, although a new crackdown on smoking, the premature end of compulsory military service, and President Vaclav Klaus taking the rubbish out also feature on today's front pages.

Besides Tuesday's vote of confidence won in the House of Deputies by Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla's government, most of the papers today carry articles with unpleasant news. On the international front, it is the United States pushing for war against Iraq, and domestically, an analysis of how Czechs die, the investigation into the fatal coach crash and another attempt at self-immolation making the headlines.

Divisions over the looming war in Iraq make the headlines in several of Tuesday's Czech dailies, as does Saturday's tragic coach crash in south Bohemia. MLADA FRONTA DNES carries a poignant photo of a floral shrine to three young sisters who were among the 19 dead. Surrounded by flowers, a framed photo shows smiling sisters Marketa, Petra and Stepanka.

Saturday's coach accident, the new Czech president and the situation around Iraq are the topics making today's headlines. All papers today feature a photo of the double-decker coach whose top deck was literally sliced off during the crash, killing 19 and injuring 34 people.

The day on which the Czech Republic is to get a new head of state has been overshadowed by yesterday's tragic incident on Wenceslas Square. As a result, today's front pages make a sad picture. There are snapshots of people laying flowers on the spot where 19 year old Zdenek Adamec set himself ablaze and there is plenty of reflection on what led the teenager to take his life in such a painful manner. A single quote from many of the papers provides the boy's own answer: "I don't like today's world".

The news that France, Russia and Germany have decided to vote against a UN resolution that would sanction military action against Iraq has fuelled more speculation about whether war with Iraq can be averted. If the US and Great Britain decide to go to war they would not only be acting against public opinion at home - they would be in serious conflict with their allies, says Mlada Fronta Dnes.