Conservative leader becomes new Czech premier

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has appointed the leader of a conservative party to become the country's new prime minister following last month's parliamentary elections.

 After the election, Petr Necas' major conservative Civic Democratic Party and two new parties agreed to form a center-right coalition that would have a parliamentary majority. They want to reduce the country's debt, carry out fundamental health-care and pension reforms and fight corruption. (AP)