Ex-president Havel recovers from respiratory infection

Former Czech president Václav Havel is recovering from a respiratory tract infection, an aide to Mr Havel said on Thursday. The 73-year-old ex-president, who came down with the infection on Monday, is taking antibiotics and continues his recovery at home. His engagements for the whole of next week have been cancelled.

In 1996, Mr Havel had part of his right lung removed due to cancer. He has since often suffered from infections of the respiratory tract. Last January, the former head of state spent two weeks in hospital with serious throat infection.