Czech leader pockets pen, now viral on YouTube
By Associated Press
Apr 12, 2011 5:17 PM CDT

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 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.