Haider shrugs off E.U. action

VIENNA, FEB. 5. The Austrian far right leader, Mr. Joerg Haider, shrugged off the international uproar against the inclusion of his Freedom Party in Government as street riots in Vienna left more than 50 people injured today.

Mr. Haider dismissed steps taken by Austria's 14 European Union partners to isolate the country politically, noting that major E.U. policy required unanimity among the bloc's 15 members. ``This is nothing to get hysterical about,'' he said, adding Austrians need not worry about sanctions.

Condemnation abroad and violent protests at home greeted the centre-right Government of the Conservative Chancellor, Mr. Wolfgang Schuessel, sworn in yesterday in Vienna by the President, Mr.Thomas Klestil. Police sources said 43 police officers, 11 anti-rightist demonstrators and two bystanders were injured and 32 police vehicles damaged in the riots, which peaked with clashes in an elegant shopping district near the central city landmark of St. Stephen's Cathedral. Seven arrests were made.

Late yesterday and early today, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse a hard core of about 200 masked persons who threw stones and other missiles at them. An Austrian human rights group, Sos Mitmensch, cancelled a demonstration against Mr. Haider today because of the violence, but police said they expected militant protesters to mass before the imperial Hofburg Palace again.

Mr. Haider called on the Opposition Social Democrats and Greens to ``rein in their supporters who obviously have gone out of control''. ``Yes to the freedom of opinion and the right to demonstrate,'' he said. ``No to violence.''

Police said several foreign youths were among the protesters in the riots, which were unusually violent by Austrian standards.

Meanwhile, reacting to the developments, the new Chancellor, Mr. Schuessel said Austria had not become an international outcast, and a new Hitler was not on the rise with the inclusion of the Freedom Party in his coalition. The People's Party leader said he had not imagined that joining a coalition with the Freedom Party would lead to such an outcry.

``Austria is not triggering a crisis in Europe. Do 360 million people in 14 big and powerful states really have to fear tiny Austria with eight million people? It is ridiculous?'' Mr. Schuessel asked.

Austria's E.U. partners mistrust Mr. Haider for comments he has made playing down Nazi crimes, expressing hostility to immigration and opposition to the bloc's enlargement.

U.S. summons envoy

The United States has ordered its ambassador to Austria to return home for consultations, the Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, said.

- Reuters, AFP

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