Ministers reviewed the secret police files, and declared that the case against Mr Zilk was indeed unproven.

ECONOMIST: Czech Republic

The intended target, they said, was not Mr Zilk: the conspirators were out to discredit President Havel.

ECONOMIST: Czech Republic

In a final twist, the president's aides let it be known that Mr Havel had been duped into branding Mr Zilk a collaborator.

ECONOMIST: Czech Republic

Mr Zilk, whose hand was damaged by a letter bomb sent by Austrian neo-fascists five years ago, said the charge was absolutely groundless.

ECONOMIST: Czech Republic

Helmut Zilk, a former mayor of Vienna, the Austrian capital, and a past champion of Czech anti-Communists, was due to receive from President Havel a Czech honour, the Order of the White Lion.

ECONOMIST: Czech Republic