A large crowd had gathered around Prague's ancient Hraděany Castle, clearly hoping to witness the beginning of the downfall of their Communist boss.
Inside the castle's vast Gothic Vladislav Hall, 294 Deputies of the tame Communist Parliament were gathered to elect a new President. For weeks there had been hints that dour Antonin Novotny, 59, who for seven years has been both President and Communist Party chief, might lose the presidency, possibly as the first step to complete oblivion. Once a Stalinist who survived by ruthlessly killing off his rivals, Novotny had...
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