Rebel MP sues PM for slander

Vlastimil Tlustý, a rebel deputy of the Civic Democratic Party is suing Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and certain media for slander over allegations that he had knowingly cooperated with the mafia. Mr. Tlustý told reporters on Tuesday that this was an attempt to destroy him politically and said he was bringing lawsuits against commercial TV Nova, the daily Mladá fronta Dnes and the prime minister who had all contributed to spreading what he said were blatant lies against him. At the weekend the daily Mladá fronta Dnes published recordings of alleged phone conversations between the late mafia boss František Mrázek and two Civic Democrat politicians – Vlastimil Tlustý and Interior Minister Ivan Langer.