In an election that marks the end of an era, the Czech parliament meets Wednesday to choose a new president to succeed Vaclav Havel, the former dissident who became a symbol of Eastern Europe's transition from communism to democracy.
The two houses of parliament were to meet jointly at 0900 GMT, but vote separately, to elect a successor to the man who led the former communist nation to independence from Soviet rule in 1989 and then into NATO in 1999, AFP reported.
66-year-old Havel is stepping down as he has served the maximum two terms in office, with his current five-year mandate expiring on February 2. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
