THE EMBARRASSING THEFT OF A CZECH PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE CAME TO LIGHT FRIDAY WHEN A SMALL-TOWN POLICE FORCE REPORTED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN FOUND, ACCORDING TO DPA. THE BLACK, SKODA SUPERB WAS STOLEN TUESDAY FROM A PRAGUE PETROL STATION AND DISCOVERED PARTIALLY STRIPPED AND IN SOME BUSHES ABOUT 40 KILOMETRES AWAY NEAR LOUNY, SAID THE TOWN'S POLICE SPOKESWOMAN JAROMIRA STRELCOVA. A CHAUFFEUR FOR CZECH PRESIDENT VACLAV KLAUS WAS USING THE CAR WHEN IT WAS STOLEN, BUT THE INCIDENT WASN'T PUBLICIZED UNTIL AFTER THE LOUNY POLICE ANNOUNCEMENT. PRAGUE POLICE SAID THE THIEF SNATCHED THE CAR AFTER THE UNIDENTIFIED CHAUFFEUR STOPPED AND WENT INSIDE THE PETROL STATION STORE TO BUY A NEWSPAPER, LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. A PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN SAID THE DRIVER FACED DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR "CARELESSNESS."
