Santiago: Czech President Vaclav Klaus is going viral on the Internet after making a not-so-smooth move during a news conference in Chile.
A video shows Klaus quietly slipping a ceremonial pen into his pocket as Chilean President Sebastian Pinera praises the Czech leader's visit last week.
Czech television broadcast the video, and then a copy showed up on YouTube with the headline "President of Czech Republic steals pen”, red circles and arrows and a crime scene soundtrack. It's had more than 100,000 views and counting.
Klaus spokesman Radim Ochvat said on Tuesday that it was "a common pen with a logo of the state or office, which Presidents and members of their delegation receive during state visits”.
Actually, the pens are encrusted with semi-precious Chilean lapiz lazuili stones, but Pinera spokeswoman Constanza Cea said the President's guests are free to take them.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 16:04