Haider criticises Jewish leader

Haider: Being sued by Jewish leader Muzicant

VIENNA, Austria -- Right-wing Austrian politician Joerg Haider has accused a prominent Jewish leader of being "unpatriotic."

He claimed that Ariel Muzicant, head of Vienna's Jewish Cultural Community, had been spreading lies about the threat to Austrian Jews from the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), currently part of Austria's coalition government.

Haider was reacting to a fundraising letter sent by Edgar Bronfman, President of the World Jewish Congress, to Jewish groups in the United States.

The circular, allegedly written at Muzicant's behest, warns that Jews in Austria might face violence, harassment and intimidation as a result of the activities of far-right politicians.

"This is an unpatriotic act hostile to Austria and it deserves to be criticised regardless of where it comes from," said Haider.

"It appears to me to be absolutely inadmissible that an Austrian citizen should speak badly of his country abroad, saying untruthful things about his country and create opinion against Austria."

His attack is the latest salvo in an on-going feud between the two men.

Muzicant is currently suing Haider for remarks made about him at a Freedom Party meeting last week, where he poked fun at Muzicant's first name, which is also the name of a brand of detergent.

Haider is the governor of the southern province of Carinthia. An outspoken politician, he has previously aroused controversy with his comments praising Hitler's employment policies and the Waffen SS.

Under his leadership the Freedom Party became part of a coalition government with Schuessel's People's Party, leading to EU sanctions against Austria.

He stepped down as party leader in 2000, but still holds key roles in the party.

Muzicant has not yet commented on Haider's latest remarks.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Austrian Government
People's Party
Freedom Party
Jewish Cultural Community

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