Press Review | All stories

All of today's dailies follow the continuing drama surrounding the arrest of Saddam Hussein - with every paper from MLADA FRONTA DNES to PRAVO speculating on the former dictator's grim future. MLADA FRONTA DNES features a grisly Iraqi quote that reads "We will execute Saddam" while PRAVO's headline reads "I am Saddam Hussein and I want to negotiate"- a last ditch effort by the former strongman as he was taken into US custody. PRAVO writes that the capture of Mr Hussein was far more dramatic than had been previously reported. The daily says had

The obvious story that gets the most attention in today's papers is the capture of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Large photos of the now run-down and scraggly former leader dominate the dailies without exception. "Saddam Hussein hunted down", "The end of Saddam" or "Saddam caught" read the headlines across the front pages.

The first pardons granted by President Vaclav Klaus, the crucial summit on the EU constitution in Brussels and last minute US efforts to influence the outcome of a tender which is to help the Czech government decide on the lease of a fleet of modern fighter jets for the Czech Air Force : those are the main stories on today's front pages.

There are many interesting stories in today's dailies, not least the opening of Yoko Ono's new exhibition in Prague, a decision by the Christian Democrats to support a government commission's recommendation on buying 14 new fighter jets, and the chilling story of a prostitute who killed several clients for money - after being released from prison. Those stories all get in-depth attention on today's front pages.

There is no doubt at all as to who is the hero of the day - and even readers who have scant interest in sports will not be able to ignore the big news:Sparta's stunning upset against Lazio Rome on Tuesday, a game in which fans were kept on tenterhooks until the 93rd minute. Marek Kincl managed to score in the dying seconds of the game and most papers carry front pages photos of the star just moments after the goal which opened the door to the next stage of the Champions League in the spring.

The main story dominating all papers today is Monday's rejection of the EU constitution by Czech President Vaclav Klaus. Most dailies also speculate on food prices next year, following the release of latest statistics showing the biggest rise in consumer prices in the last twelve months.

Parliamentary elections in Russia, the departure of Freedom Union deputy chairman Ratibor Majzlik from the party's weekend conference and the results of Saturday's Cesky slavik- the Czech Nightingale pop-music awards - those are some of the front page stories in today's Czech papers.

The government's plans for pension reform, the withdrawal of the Czech field hospital from Basra and the unveiling of a Franz Kafka statue in Prague have all received front page coverage in Lidove Noviny. Pravo has highlighted the shaky position of Foreign Minster Cyril Svoboda within his own party, while Mlada Fronta Dnes carries a detailed front page report on Transport Minister Simonovsky's proposal to get tough with undisciplined drivers.

Parliament's passing of next year's state budget including its record 115 billion crown deficit, as well as a street protest by students angry over the under-financing of Czech universities - both make the front pages of today's dailies. One of the headlines in reads "Relief for the government - the budget has passed", while showing a photo of a visibly pleased Prime Minister Vladmir Spidla.

President Klaus's trip to Sweden is featured heavily in the dailies today - MLADA FRONTA DNES shows the president standing side by side with Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustav at the royal palace in Stockholm. All the papers feature coverage of the Czech president's address to the Swedish parliament, in which he laid into the single European currency.