Hundreds attend funeral of Communist MEP Ransdorf

Some four hundred people, among them politicians and close friends, attended the funeral of Communist Party MEP Miloslav Ransdorf on Friday. Among those present were Trade and Industry Minister Jan Mladek (Social Democrat), the leader of the Communist Party Vojtech Filip, and its deputy leader Jiri Dolejs, who said Mr. Ransdorf would be remembered as a great intellectual albeit a controversial figure. The MEP, who died at the age of 62 last weekend, was being investigated by the Swiss police on suspicion of fraud. His family has asked for an investigation into his death.