Czech minister offers to quit over alleged relationship

Prague, March 11 : Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer refused late Wednesday to accept the resignation of Human Rights Minister Michael Kocab, who offered to step aside over media reports alleging that he had a romantic relationship with a subordinate.

The newspaper Blesk reported that Kocab had been linked with his ministry's spokeswoman.

Roman Prorok, spokesman for Fischer, said in Prague that the prime minister would seek to discuss the matter with Kocab.

Kocab, 55, a rock musician and songwriter, is a political independent who was nominated for a cabinet post by the Czech Green Party. He has held the human rights portfolio since January 2009.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for late May in the Czech Republic.