Prague - Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's government survived a parliamentary confidence motion Wednesday, just as the Czech Republic prepares to take over the EU presidency in January.

The left-leaning opposition was five votes short in the 96-97 vote, the fourth failed effort to topple the ruling coalition since it came to power in January 2007.

The main opposition Social Democrats needed 101 votes in the 200-seat lower house to oust Topolanek's center-right cabinet.

Prague - Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's government faced a parliamentary confidence motion Wednesday, just as the Czech Republic prepares to take over the EU presidency in January.

The left-leaning opposition sought the vote on ousting the government after Topolanek's Civic Democrats, in power since January 2007, were weakened by a defeat in regional elections Saturday.

Political tension in the Central European nation is running high over the government's 2009 budget and before Senate run-off elections starting Friday that could bring more losses for the premier.

Prague - Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's government faced a parliamentary confidence motion Wednesday, just as the Czech Republic prepares to take over the EU presidency in January.

The left-leaning opposition sought the vote on ousting the government after Topolanek's Civic Democrats, in power since January 2007, were weakened by a defeat in regional elections Saturday.

Prague - Czech coal miner New World Resources (NWR) said Monday it plans to buy a 25-per-cent share in the Ukrainian iron ore pellet producer Ferrexpo from RPG Industries, NWR's majority shareholder.

The mining group said it will pay 163.3 million euros (220.1 million dollars) for the stake that RPG Industries bought earlier in October.

"We are taking advantage of a unique market opportunity to secure a significant holding in Ferrexpo at an attractive valuation," NWR's executive chairman Miklos Salamon said in a statement.

NWR said the acquisition will be fully funded from its cash position that stood at 668 million euros on June 30.

Prague - The opposition Social Democratic Party issued a shockingly heavy blow to Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in the Czech Republic's regional and Senate elections, final results showed Saturday. 

As a consequence Topolanek's position as a party leader and possibly as a premier looked shaky just 10 weeks before his country takes over the European Union's rotating presidency. 

The Social Democrats took all 13 regions where voting took place, their first such success since 2000 when regions came to existence, the Czech Statistical Office said.