Czech Leader Gets Gag Ashtray From Hospital

Republic While Czechs prayed for Vaclav Havel’s health, staff of the hospital where he was treated for lung cancer had a more practical solution: They gave the chain-smoking president an “unusable ashtray” - one overflowing with plaster cigarette stubs - for Christmas.

Havel is recovering from surgery for lung cancer, complicated by pneumonia and bronchitis. He left intensive care earlier this week, but has to remain in the hospital throughout the holidays.

Before surgery, Havel, 60, was a chain-smoker who often criticized his own habit but was unable to break it even after his wife, Olga, also a heavy smoker, died of cancer last January.