Czech Prime Minister Denies Closer Ties with Communists

The leader of the ruling Social Democrats has quickly discounted the Communist Party's surprising claim of closer ties with his party. The Social Democrat leader, Prime Minister Milos Zeman, said he had offered only limited support to the Communists in the wake of Sunday's Senate and regional elections. He also denied the Communist Party's claim that the Social Democrats would endorse all Communist candidates who advanced to next Sunday's runoff elections. The Communist Party chief, Miroslav Grebenicek, earlier said that his Tuesday night meeting with Mr. Zeman had focused on mutual support between the rival parties and on building regional coalitions. He also said the Social Democrats would back all Communist candidates in runoff contests where no Social Democrats were running.