Protesters gather for a demonstration in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Monday, March 5, 2018. Thousands of Czechs are rallying in the capital and other major cities to protest against the election of a former communist era police officer to a parliamentary post. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
March 06, 2018 - 6:57 AM
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - A former communist-era police officer in the Czech Republic has resigned as chairman of a parliamentary committee on law enforcement following massive protests across the country.
Zdenek Ondracek was elected on Friday to head the committee with responsibility for the oversight of police forces.
Ondracek cited security reasons and unspecified threats in announcing his resignation on Tuesday.
Ondracek was a member of a police unit that was involved in the persecution of the communist regime's opponents, including beatings of demonstrators before the 1989 Velvet Revolution.
He had said doesn't regret what he did in the past.
Thousands of Czechs rallied in Prague and other major cities on Monday to protest his election.
Many protesters also criticized acting Prime Minister Andrej Babis, whose centrist ANO movement made Ondracek's election possible.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018