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Former president Václav Havel has written an open letter to Culture Minister Jiří Besser protesting the demolition of a protected building on Prague’s Wenceslaus Square. Mr Havel wrote that even greater than his regret at the destruction of the building is his fear of the monster that is to be built there. The decision to tear down the building at Václavské náměstí 47 has met with a great deal of opposition, not least because the building is protected both by the City of Prague and UNESCO. Proponents of the demolition say that continuous remodelling of the building have left nothing of the original 19th century structure and that the building is not a cultural monument. The demolition is planned for this November and a nine-storey office and commercial building is to be constructed in its place.

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel on Tuesday launched an Amnesty International campaign in support of three prisoners of conscience, Syrian lawyer Muhannad Al-Hasani, Iranian woman Sakineh Ashtiani and Chinese journalist Shi Tao. Mr. Havel and Amnesty International started a petition calling for the prisoners´ release. Recalling his own years in communist prisons Mr. Havel said it had been immensely encouraging for him to receive international support. According to Amnesty International lawyer Muhannad Al-Hasani was sent to prison for three years for his activities supporting human rights advocates, Shi Tao was sentenced to ten years for having released a confidential e-mail from the Chinese government with instructions for journalists how to write about a demonstration and Astiani faces death by stoning for infidelity.

Both the current and former presidents have reacted to the recording. President Klaus said there was no need to respond to empty boasting, noting that he was far more concerned about the fact that a secretly recorded tape was once again an instrument in political warfare. The former head of state Václav Havel has asked not to have his name dragged through the mud in party infighting. Mr. Havel’s assistant said the former president was not in any way involved in present day politics, made no attempt to interfere in political life and that his occasional contacts with Radek John were restricted to social occasions.

Former Czech president Václav Havel’s sister-in-law, Dagmar Havlová, has won a legal case over ownership of half of Prague’s Lucerna Palace. A court in Prague excluded on Monday the property from the bankruptcy estate of the firm Chemapol Reality. The Lucerna Palace, built between 1907 and 1921, was returned to the brothers Václav and Ivan Havel in 1992. Ivan Havel gave his part of the building to his wife, Dagmar; Václav Havel sold his to the Chemapol firm in 1997 for 200 million crowns. However, the firm later sold the property to Dagmar Havlová at a lower price. After Chemapol went bankrupt in 1999, the authorities claimed the firm should have never sold its part of the palace, a view rejected on Monday by the Prague Municipal Court.

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel made his debut as a filmmaker as his movie “Leaving”, based on his own play, premiered in Prague on Tuesday. The screening took place at the Lucerna cinema in Prague's historic centre, built by Havel's grandfather, an architect and entrepreneur. The film, due to hit cinemas across the Czech Republic on Thursday, is based on a play written by Havel after he ended his career as president. It tells the story of a leading politician who, as he prepares to leave power, sees his world collapse amid treachery and a merciless confrontation with an unscrupulous successor.

The film version of Václav Havel’s play Leaving hits the silver screen tonight, with premieres at Lucerna Palace (which his grandfather designed, incidentally) and Slovanský Dům. The former president and playwright has said that directing a film was a dream of his and ‘Leaving’ is the first fruit of his cinematic labour. But pre-release reviews have thrown cold water on the big expectations around the film. Earlier today we spoke with Theo Schwinke, the Eastern European correspondent for the multimedia magazine Screen International who was among

Ex-president Václav Havel was released from a Prague hospital on Sunday morning, almost a fortnight after he was admitted suffering from acute bronchitis. Mr Havel has been prone to this type of ailment in the past, having had half of a lung together with a malignant tumour removed in 1996. His health also suffered through his imprisonment under the Communist regime. The 74-year-old playwright and first-time film director will continue treatment at home but will be able to attend the Tuesday private of his first film Leaving – based on his play of the same name. The film has its public premiere on March 24.

Ex-president Václav Havel, suffering from a case of acute bronchitis, remains in hospital although his condition is said to be improving. The 74-year-old former dissident was admitted to hospital on March 8 and has been receiving antibiotics; he has been prone to this type of ailment in the past, having had half of a lung together with a malignant tumour removed in 1996. His health also suffered through his imprisonment under the Communist regime. Additional details in his current treatment have not been released. Originally Mr Havel’s office expressed the hope the former head-of-state would be able to attend the premiere of his first film, Leaving, on March 22.

Leaving, the first film directed by playwright and former Czech president Václav Havel, say a pre-premiere in Prague on Monday, even though Mr Havel himself remains in hospital. Jaroslav Bouček, the film's producer, told journalists at the screening that he had spoken with Mr Havel who sent his best wishes. The 74-year-old was admitted to a hospital in Prague last Tuesday suffering from acute bronchitis. Doctors have described his condition as "stable". The film by the former dissident turned president focuses on the final days of one man’s political career: a politician who sees his world collapse amidst treachery from a conniving successor. The work was reportedly inspired in part by William Shakespeare’s King Lear and Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. The film version premieres in Czech cinemas on March 24.

Former President Vaclav Havel remains in the care of the Prague Military Hospital with a respiratory tract inflammation; a hospital spokeswoman told reporters on Monday that his doctors do not yet know yet when they will release him to home care. Mr Havel, who is 74, was admitted to the hospital on March 8 and has been on antibiotics. His office expects him to attend the premiere of Leaving, his film debut based on his own theatre play, scheduled for the end of March. Mr Havel is prone to this type of ailment and it is risky for him; he had a half of a lung together with a malignant tumour removed in late 1996. Havel was a chain smoker for many years and his health was also affected by his imprisonment by the communist regime in the 1980s.