Czechs pay last respects to general

Dozens of people gathered in Prague on Friday to pay their last respects to General Antonin Spacek who died just over a week ago at the age of 89. The former fighter pilot, who served in the RAF during World War II, was given a funeral with full military honours. It was attended by family and friends as well as state officials including Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova, Chief of the General Staff Vlastimil Picek and other political and military figures. A representative from the President's Office on Friday said that Mr Spacek was "a hero who had risked his life for his nation". Last year the general was given the Czech Republic's highest honour - the Order of the White Lion - for service to his country. Before that, on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mr Spacek was given the Legion of Honour by French President Jacques Chirac.

Author: Jan Velinger