Crucial vote leaves Czech PM hanging on

Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, battling to save the market reforms he has built since the end of Communism, just survived a vote of confidence in his government.

Deputies voted 101-99 for Mr Klaus. The vote came six hours after Mr Klaus went before the Czech parliament saying he needed its vote to carry through an austerity program. Mr Klaus controls 100 seats in the 200-seat parliament and had to win over independent deputy Jozef Wagner to win. Mr Wagner told parliament he would support Mr Klaus only if the premier promised to put the future privatization of banks and large state-owned companies before parliament. AP - Prague