Australian right-winger attacks 'witch hunt'

Pauline Hanson hopes to make a political comeback

The leader of Australia's right-wing One Nation party has made a brief pre-trial appearance in court on fraud charges which carry up to a 10-year prison sentence.

Mrs Hanson, who has pleaded innocent, told a crowd of supporters outside a Brisbane magistrates court the charges were part of a "political witch hunt to discredit me".

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She said, the aim was to damage her chances of winning a Senate seat in national elections expected to be called later this week for November.

Under Australian law, anyone convicted of a crime with a penalty of 12 months or more is barred from parliament.

However, Mrs Hanson said she was relieved the trial would not begin until 22 April, clearing the way for her candidacy.

'Emotionally draining'

"It's been very emotionally draining on me... it's something that does concern me but I'm trying to concentrate on the federal election," she said.

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Correspondents say One Nation is unlikely to win any seats in the lower house but may pick up one or two Senate seats.

Mrs Hanson pleaded not guilty in July to charges alleging she illegally registered her party and subsequently accepted Aus $500,000 (US $250,000) in electoral funding.

One Nation co-founder David Etteridge has also pleaded not guilty to one charge of fraud.

Mainstream concern

Mainstream political parties were shocked by the strength of support for One Nation, which had previously been largely dismissed as a fringe group of right-wing extremists.

The party's opponents accuse it of promoting racist policies, in particular in its attitude towards Asian immigration.

In parliamentary elections in 1998, One Nation polled 8.4% of the vote but Ms Hanson lost her seat and the party disintegrated amid political in-fighting and legal troubles.

However, last February the party performed well in elections in Queensland and Western Australia states, polling up to 10% of votes.