UPDATE 1-Czech PM says he will have majority in key vote

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Two rebel deputies agreed on Tuesday to ensure Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's centre-right coalition has a majority in a crucial vote in parliament this week, ending months of political paralysis.

Topolanek's three-party government has half the 200 seats in the lower house and needs a simple majority to win a confidence vote scheduled for Friday.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Topolanek said leftist deputies Milos Melcak and Michal Pohanka had agreed to abstain, meaning the government's 100 seats would be enough to win.

The two rebels were present at the news conference and confirmed the prime minister's statement.

"We believe it is not possible to continue with this (political) agony. Of course I have some reservations against the government. But I think that many of the programme concessions that we have managed to negotiate should allow for the establishment of this government," Pohanka said.

Topolanek has formed a cabinet of his right-wing Civic Democrats, the centrist Christian Democrats and the Green Party, in a second attempt to overcome the crisis crippling political life since an inconclusive election in June.

It has agreed on a pro-reform platform of tax changes, social spending cuts and health and public budget reforms.

Topolanek, Pohanka and Melcak did not say what concessions were made.

A minority government composed solely of Topolanek's Civic Democrats failed to win a confidence vote in October.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]