Czech president in angry exchange with Euro-MP

(PRAGUE) - An angry exchange erupted Friday during a closed-doors meeting of the Czech Republic's president, an arch Euro critic, and visiting members of the European Parliament, Czech media reported.

Vaclav Klaus, whose country assumes the rotating European Union presidency on January 1, was said by his chancellor, Jiri Weigl, to have reacted to "extreme provocation" by Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a French-born German Greens deputy.

"We have not seen such a tone and style of debate with our head of state for decades, it's most regrettable," the CTK news agency quoted Weigl as saying.

Klaus has previously provoked ire from supporters of closer European integration by dining with millionaire "No" campaigner Declan Ganley in Ireland's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the result of which stalled implementation of a text meant to streamline European level decision-making.

The European Parliament delegation presented Klaus with an EU flag on arrival, suggesting he hoist it above the presidency headquarters throughout Prague's six months in the role -- when the president had already said he would limit EU symbolism wherever possible.

Czech lawmakers are meeting in a special session on December 9 to debate the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty at the request of the opposition Social Democrats, with Klaus an avowed opponent and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, a supporter, facing a party leadership challenge this weekend.