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Environment Minister Tomas Taraba said on Wednesday there were more than 1,300 bears in Slovakia, and that 800 was a "sufficient number", as the population was growing.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba blamed opposition parties and their “false narratives” for the attack.

Tomas Taraba told the BBC Mr Fico's surgery had gone "well" and "I guess that at the end he will survive".

"As far as I know, the operation went well and I guess that at the end he will survive," Mr Taraba said.

Mr Taraba added that the prime minister was shot "from very close" and that "one bullet went through the stomach and the second one hit the joint".