Thousands rally against government in Czech cities

PRAGUE (AFP) - Police said thousands of people took to the streets of Czech cities Saturday, the anniversary of the 1989 fall of communism, to protest against the centre-right government, which has been implementing harsh austerity policies.

"Ten thousand people rallied in Prague," local police spokesman Jan Danek told AFP after unions, students and disabled people gathered in the city centre for a protest march, calling on the cabinet to resign.

The government of rightwing Prime Minister Petr Necas, in office since 2010, has been falling out of favour with voters over deep austerity cuts and corruption scandals.

The country of 10.5 million people - an EU member since 2004 which is yet to join the euro zone - sank into recession early this year, and its central bank predicts its economy will contract by 0.9 per cent in 2012.