Vienna - The Austrian Chancellor, Mr Wolfgang Schussel, criticised rightwing politician Mr Jorg Haider yesterday for a verbal attack on a Jewish leader that has been widely branded as anti-Semitic. Mr Schussel distanced himself from a punning reference in a speech by Mr Haider to the first name of Ariel Muzicant, leader of Austria's Jewish community, and the name of a well-known washing powder.
But Mr Schussel declined to state clearly if he thought Mr Haider's remarks antiSemitic and said it was up to him to decide whether or not he should apologise to Mr Muzicant, who said he would "sue Haider to shreds".
