The Czech lower house of parliament voted on Wednesday to override a presidential veto and passed a same-sex law allowing homosexual couples to register their partnerships.

It is the fifth attempt to approve the controversial legislation, which was finally passed with 101 of the 177 deputies in favor.

President Vaclav Klaus said that the law had nothing to do with the freedom of the minorities.

Klaus said that the outcome of the vote had not convinced him of the correctness and necessity of the law.

He said that "there was only a vote on the misapprehensive liberalism or even a short-sighted election gesture."

The debate on the law also brought about a political dispute between president and prime minister. Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek made a great effort in helping pass the legislation.

The legislation will give same-sex couples many of the same rights such as marriage and inheritance.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)