PRAGUE, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The Czech Chamber of Deputies retained the right to elect the Czech president as it rejected on Wednesday a draft constitutional amendment providing for a direct election.

    It is supposed that the lower house will not decide on the direct election by the end of its term in mid-2006.

    The amendment was submitted by a group of government coalition deputies more than two years ago. Ninety-nine of the 183 present deputies voted against it on Wednesday.

    The vote result on Wednesday, when the opposition Communists rejected the bill while the junior government Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union supported it, was expected.

    The direct presidential election is supported by a majority of citizens as well as many deputies, and its introduction had been already promised by the former government of Vladimir Spidla in 2002. But politicians have been unable to agree on the procedure.

    Politicians disagree on the number of rounds, on how many candidates should advance to the second round as well as on how many votes the winner would need.

    After the last general election in 2002, legislators have attempted to change other constitutional rules, too, but have failed to reach an agreement. Enditem