Immigration dominates Vienna elections

Voters in the Austrian capital, Vienna, are electing a new city council after a strongly anti-immigrant campaign by the far-right Freedom Party.

The party, which caused an international outcry when it entered the national government, has covered the city with posters of its candidate for mayor, Helene Partik-Pable, and the statement: "Foreigners.

I understand the worries of the Viennese." Legal immigrants represent eighteen percent of the population.

The Social Democratic Party, which has run Vienna for most of the past century, is expected to retain control of the city.

But correspondents say the Freedom Party is hoping for a revival in its fortunes, after its support slumped in two regional elections last year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service