Ministry questions legality of Prague mayor's plan to take unpaid leave to climb Everest

The Interior Ministry says Prague mayor Pavel Bem's plan to take seven weeks of unpaid leave to climb Mount Everest contravenes the law, Lidove noviny reported. However, deputy mayor Rudolf Blazek told the daily his superior could legally take the time off, adding that the Interior Ministry's opinion was not binding. Mr Bem plans to leave on the expedition later this month.

Author: Ian Willoughby