ARMS - Amnesty International supporters handed in a 700-signature petition to the Foreign Ministry June 16 in support of human rights in Colombia, claiming that the Czech Republic breaches European Union rules by exporting weapons to the South American state. Foreign Ministry spokesman Vít Kolář said this country sticks to an EU code of conduct on arms exports and observes embargoes.

HOMELESS - A tram driver charged with burning a homeless man had long used fire as a way of scaring sleeping passengers off his trams, Mladá fronta Dnes reported. The driver and a friend allegedly poured gas on the necks of homeless passengers on night trams and then ignited their skin with a flame. Police caught the pair last month after one of their alleged victims nearly died.

EUROPE - Almost half of Czechs feel like EU citizens, but only four in 10 are proud of such a status, according to a CVVM poll released June 17. The survey was carried out before the European constitution was rejected by voters in France May 29 and in the Netherlands June 1.

BIG TIME - The Czech Football Association invited a football team from Plzeň, the country