PM to pay fine for lighting pipe in bar

Lithuania's pipe-smoking prime minister said yesterday he would pay a 290 euro ($435) fine for violating a ban on lighting up in public establishments.

Gediminas Kirkilas told national radio he had agreed to pay the fine that was levied on a bar in the Baltic Sea port town of Klaipeda.

"I'm to blame for this. I simply forgot that we can no longer smoke inside bars. I will cover this fine for the bar," Kirkilas said.