Conservative leader David Cameron has said he is
"disappointed" by the Czech constitutional court's decision to push
ahead with ratifying the Lisbon Treaty.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only EU leader yet to sign the treaty.

Mr Cameron told LBC radio: "I of course hope he doesn't sign the treaty but I suspect time is running out."

The
Tory leader said he would decide "later this week" what to do about his
party's pledge for a referendum on the treaty should they win power.

The Eurosceptic Mr Klaus, who was awaiting the court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty.

If Mr Klaus signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December.

The
Czech president has been seen as the last major obstacle to the passage
of the treaty, but he has recently appeared satisfied with a promised
opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Mr Klaus
has said the opt-out was essential to prevent Czech courts being
circumvented, mentioning the prospect of ethnic Germans - 2.5m of whom
were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II - trying to win
back their property.