PRAGUE - Czech prisons have already released over 3,500 inmates as of Thursday, after outgoing President Vaclav Klaus decreed a mass amnesty on Jan 1.

Around 7,400 inmates, including some jailed or on trial in major fraud cases, out of a total of 23,000 were due to be released following the decision taken by Klaus on the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic's independence.

The amnesty applies mostly to prisoners serving terms of less than a year and those over 75 who have sentences under 10 years.

But the decree counter-signed by Prime Minister Petr Necas has came under heavy fire in the country.

The Czech Republic's left-wing opposition said Thursday it would launch a parliamentary no-confidence motion against the center-right government.

In the meantime, police patrols have also been reinforced after the amnesty decree.