UK: LONDON: DEMONSTRATION AGAINST AUSTRIA'S JORG HAIDER

(14 Oct 1999) Eng/Ger/Nat

Demonstrators forced their way into a London hotel on Wednesday and tried to storm a news conference being given by Jorg Haider, Austria's far-right Freedom Party leader.

The event was halted briefly as security men ejected the protestors, who were shouting "Haider is a Nazi".

During the news conference, Haider brushed aside Israel's threat to sever ties with Vienna if his party forms the next Austrian government.

He said Israel should sort out its own problems before telling other countries what to do.

It started quietly enough. A handful of demonstrators outside the London hotel where the Freedom Party leader was staying.

But midway through his news conference, Haider was forced to stop as protestors fought their way into the hotel and tried to storm the room where he was speaking.

There were angry scenes as the demonstrators were ejected.

Haider, who once praised Hitler's employment policies, was closely questioned about his present attitude to the Third Reich.

He strongly denied being a neo-Nazi:

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm sure that I am not such a politician as you mentioned in your statement. I am a democratic politician. I am working since twenty years in Austria in the different political functions and I have never hurt or violated the constitution or democratic principles and I think this is one of the main background why the people support me because they know me."
SUPERCAPTION: Jorg Haider, Leader, Freedom Party

Israel has threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Vienna if Haider helps to form the next government. His party came second in last week's elections and could join a coalition.

Haider dismissed the threat - from Israel's foreign minister, David Levy - and said Israel should clear up its own back yard before handing out advice to countries such as Austria:

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think I will have the opportunity to explain him at some time what the real background of the philosophy and the programme of the Freedom Party is and everybody is invited to clean up in front of his own door before giving some advice to other countries and other politicians."
SUPERCAPTION: Jorg Haider, Leader, Freedom Party

In an APTN interview after his new conference, Haider indicated the Freedom Party has a good chance of taking power as part of the next Austrian government, having secured the second-highest number of votes:

SOUNDBITE: (German)
"Normally the President of Austria decides to give the mandate from the biggest party to the second largest party and in that case we would have the opportunity to start negotiations to form a government. "
SUPERCAPTION: Jorg Haider, Leader, Freedom Party

Haider is due to return to Vienna on Thursday.

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