By Jim Fish in Klagenfurt

The leader of Austria's right wing Freedom Party, Joerg Haider, has moved to calm fears that Austria might use its veto to block European business in retaliation for the political measures taken against the country's new government.

Joerg Haider took his charm campaign to mollify his critics a step further by saying it would be wrong to use Austria's European veto in retaliation against the Union's suspension of diplomatic ties last week.

At a press conference in his home province of Carinthia, Mr Haider blamed his rival politicians in Austria for projecting a negative image of him abroad.

Mistakes

He said it was "stupid" to imagine that the whole world is afraid of him, the leader of a small party in a small country in Europe.

"I've made mistakes in the past", he said, "and I've apologised for those."

He said he believed that Austria's partners would modify their attacks over the next few weeks.

The British government for one, he said, had been markedly more moderate in its public stance towards his party.

Even Israel, he hoped, would change its hostile stand, "so that we will become good friends in future", he said.

Although Mr. Haider is not part of the new government, he clearly accepts that he is the main target of Austria's critics and therefore he is mounting an intense campaign to mend fences and restore his image abroad.