The Austrian far-right leader, Joerg Haider, is continuing his campaign to calm fears about his Freedom Party's intentions as a ruling coalition member.

At a press conference in his home province of Corinthia he said it would be wrong for Austria to use its veto powers in the European Union in retaliation against EU political sanctions.

The sanctions were imposed because of the involvement of Mr Haidar and his party in government.

Last week he said the EU should bear in mind it depended on the new Austrian government when taking policy decisions.

Mr Haider blamed his rival politicians in Austria for projecting a negative image of him abroad. Yesterday Mr Haider said he would ask for a parliamentary inquiry if it could be shown that President Thomas Klestil and the outgoing Chancellor, Viktor Klima, had tried to mobilise international opinion against his Freedom Party entering the government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service