Prague - The European Union sees a "reasonable" chance for Russian natural gas to soon resume flowing via Ukraine to the 27- member bloc, a Czech official said Thursday.

"I think we can have some reasonable hope in a quick resolution for what is the most urgent need and that is to resume the gas flows," said Czech Vice-Premier for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra before a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

The Czech Republic presides over the EU until June 30.

Prague - Greenpeace activists Wednesday briefly flew an EU flag at the Czech president's official Prague Castle residence, where current occupant President Vaclav Klaus has been refusing to do so.

An activist partially climbed a flagpole and unfurled the flag for about 10 minutes shortly before Klaus, an outspoken EU critic, hosted the bloc's executive, the European Commission.

Prague  - The Czech Republic's natural gas deliveries dropped for the second day Monday as a gas row between Russia and Ukraine continued, a gas importer said.

Martin Chalupsky, a spokesman for the country's leading gas importer, RWE Transgas, said the firm on Monday received 9.5 per cent less gas than ordered for the day.

He said that the drop amounted to 1.7 million cubic metres of gas, or 2 per cent of country's daily consumption. He said the reduction would have no impact on Czech consumers.

Prague - The Czech EU presidency spokesman will not be fired for calling Israel's ground assault on Gaza "defensive" on Saturday in a statement that outraged the Arab world, Prague said Monday.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said the spokesman's statement was "wrong" and at odds with the Czech Republic's and presidency's stance. But he also said that he would not accept his aide's resignation.

Prague/Brussels - Israel's land attack on the Gaza Strip was expected, but cannot justify the suffering inflicted on the civilian population, the European Union's presidency said in a statement Sunday.

"Launching land operations by the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip is not surprising, there were indications that Israel had been considering this step. But even the indisputable right of the state to defend itself does not allow actions which largely affect civilians," the Czech government said.

The Czech Republic currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, having taken over the role from France on Thursday.