Former Czech president Havel in hospital

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel was taken to hospital due to an irregular heartbeat, Czech television reported today.

Havel had been scheduled to participate in a television programme today but was taken to a hospital a day earlier, the public broadcaster said. It gave no details on his condition.

Havel had to be treated for similar heart trouble in 2001.

Havel, 71, also has a history of respiratory problems dating back to his years in communist jails.

A third of his right lung was removed in December 1996 after the discovery of a cancerous tumour.

Havel was a dissident playwright when he led the 1989 revolution that peacefully toppled communism.

He became president of Czechoslovakia in December 1989 and served as Czech president from January 1993 after the country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

His last term in office ended in February 2003.