Prague  - Czech President Vaclav Klaus said Thursday he preferred to find a quick but lasting solution to the political crisis, rather than keep outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in a caretaker role until the end of Prague's stint as president of the European Union.

"I will not allow a lack of a solution ... such as maintaining the current, provisional state ... until the end of our presidency," Klaus said after accepting Topolanek's cabinet resignations earlier in the day.

Prague  - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is to submit his government's resignation to President Vaclav Klaus on Thursday, two days after his cabinet failed a parliamentary confidence test half way through its presidency of the European Union.

Topolanek is to govern in a caretaker role until a new government is sworn in. President Vaclav Klaus is now the kingmaker of Czech politics as he is to pick the next premier. He has no deadline to do so.

Prague - The Czech government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek collapsed Tuesday after it lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament midway through the country's presidency of the European Union.

The leftist opposition was helped by four lawmakers elected to Topolanek's ruling coalition in toppling the cabinet by the slimmest of majorities, 101 votes.

Topolanek collected 96 votes in the 200-seat lower house after failing to meet the renegades' demands in last-minute talks. Three lawmakers were absent from the vote.

Brussels  - The European Commission said Tuesday it had "full trust" in the Czech Republic's ability to continue representing the European Union presidency, despite its government losing a confidence vote in parliament.

"The Commission has full trust that the national constitutional law allows for the Czech Republic to continue conducting the Council Presidency as effectively as it has done until now," officials in Brussels said in a statement.

Prague - The Czech government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek collapsed Tuesday after it lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament midway through the country's presidency of the European Union.

The leftist opposition was helped by four renegade lawmakers elected to Topolanek's ruling coalition in toppling the cabinet by the slimmest of majorities, 101 votes.

Topolanek collected 96 votes in the 200-seat lower house after failing to win over the renegades in last-minute talks.

Prague