Vienna - The Austrian Vice-Chancellor, Ms Susanne Riess-Passer, tried yesterday to defuse controversy over fellow far-right politician, Mr Jorg Haider (50), who called for a "thorough getting rid of" foreigners living in Austria.
In a rabble-rousing speech to the Freedom Party faithful in Vienna on Friday evening, Mr Haider said Austrians should be empowered to choose who immigrates to the wealthy Alpine republic.
"There are way too many illegals, far too many drug dealers . . . and it must be our job to bring about a thorough getting rid of [them]," he said to rapturous applause.