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Austria's Haider dies in accident Austria's Haider dies in accident
(about 1 hour later)
Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider has been killed in a road accident, police reports say. Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider has been killed in a road accident, police say.
Haider died near Klagenfurt in Carinthia, his political stronghold. Mr Haider suffered severe head and chest injuries after his car came off the road in Carinthia, his political base.
He was driving alone when his car came off the road and he suffered severe head and chest injuries, police told the Austrian APA news agency. Police investigating the crash said he had been driving alone.
The 58-year-old was a former leader of the Austrian Freedom Party, and was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies. The 58-year-old was leader of the Alliance for Austria's Future, and was known for his anti-immigration and anti-EU policies.
Police investigators in Klagenfurt told the BBC that investigations into the crash were under way. The Alliance was one of two right-wing parties which did better than expected in general elections last month, fuelling speculation of a possible role in a ruling coalition.
JOERG HAIDER: KEY DATES 1950: Born in Upper Austria1976: Joins Freedom Party1986: Elected party's leader1989: Elected governor of Carinthia2000: Resigns as party leader2005: Founds Alliance for Austria's Future Obituary: Joerg HaiderJOERG HAIDER: KEY DATES 1950: Born in Upper Austria1976: Joins Freedom Party1986: Elected party's leader1989: Elected governor of Carinthia2000: Resigns as party leader2005: Founds Alliance for Austria's Future Obituary: Joerg Haider
He had reportedly been due to attend his mother's 90th birthday celebrations later in the day.He had reportedly been due to attend his mother's 90th birthday celebrations later in the day.
"For us this is the end of the world," the deputy leader of Haider's Alliance for Austria's Future, Stefan Petzner, told Austrian news agency, APA. "For us this is the end of the world," the deputy leader of Mr Haider's Alliance for Austria's Future, Stefan Petzner, told Austrian news agency, APA.
Austria's President Heinz Fischer said Mr Haider's death was a "human tragedy", while Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer described him as someone who had shaped Austria's domestic and political landscape over decades, according to the Associated Press news agency.
EU sanctionsEU sanctions
Haider was a divisive figure, who gained notoriety after he became leader of the Freedom Party in 1986. Mr Haider was a divisive figure, who gained notoriety after he became leader of the Freedom Party in 1986.
In 1991, his term as governor of the province of Carinthia was interrupted, after he made comments praising employment policies of Nazi Germany.In 1991, his term as governor of the province of Carinthia was interrupted, after he made comments praising employment policies of Nazi Germany.
Mr Haider speaking about immigration in September
But he was re-elected in 1999 and 2003.But he was re-elected in 1999 and 2003.
In 2000, the EU imposed sanctions against Austria in a protest over his party's role in government.In 2000, the EU imposed sanctions against Austria in a protest over his party's role in government.
In 2005, Haider founded the Alliance for Austria's Future, which scored its best result so far in recent elections, gaining 11% of the vote. In 2005, Mr Haider left the Freedom Party and founded the Alliance for Austria's Future, which scored its best result so far in elections last month, gaining 11% of the vote.
This was, however, well below the 27% which the Freedom Party won under his leadership in 1999 - a high mark in Haider's electoral career at national level. This was, however, well below the 27% which the Freedom Party won under his leadership in 1999 - a high mark in Mr Haider's electoral career at national level.
"With his passing, Austria has lost a great political figure," said Heinz-Christian Strache, who had taken over as leader of the Freedom Party after Mr Haider left.