Austria's 14 partners in the European Union have threatened to cut all official contacts with Vienna if the far-right Freedom Party is allowed into power there.

In an unprecedented move, the other member nations have warned that they will politically isolate Austria within the EU if Freedom Party leader Joerg Haider succeeds in forming a coalition government with moderate conservatives.

It comes amid escalating international concern that Mr Haider will strike a deal with the People's Party to end Austria's four-month power vacuum.

A joint statement issued by Portugal, the current holder of the EU presidency, said the government of the 14 member states "will not promote or accept any bilateral official contacts at political level with an Austrian Government integrating the FPO [Freedom Party]."

It added that in those circumstances, the 14 would not back Austrian candidates bidding for posts in international organisations.

Austrian ambassadors in EU capitals would also "only be received at a technical level".

'Nothing will be as before'

The Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres said EU countries would be forced to reassess their relations with Austria.

"If a party which has expressed xenophobic views, and which does not abide by the essential values of the European family, comes to power, naturally we won't be able to continue the same relations as in the past, however much we regret it," he said.

"Nothing will be as before."

People's Party leader Wolfgang Schuessel expressed surprise at the EU warning.

"Austria is not a country in need of a lesson in democracy," said Mr Schuessel, the foreign minister in Austria's caretaker government.

"I find it surprising that the 14 member states of the European Union have come to such a decision without consulting Austria - a member state itself."

The international outcry over the Freedom Party largely stems from Mr Haider's professed admiration of Adolf Hitler's employment policies.

The far-right leader has also caused alarm by pledging to halt immigration into Austria and to oppose EU enlargement.

Austrian President Thomas Klestil held separate meetings with Mr Haider and Mr Schuessel, on Monday, to get updates on the progress of coalition talks.

He has announced that he will meet Social Democrat leader and caretaker Chancellor Viktor Klima and Mr Schuessel, on Tuesday, to discuss the EU decision.

It is possible that he may make a fresh appeal to the two men to try to revive the coalition between their two parties.

That alliance, which has run Austria for the past 12 years, collapsed following inconclusive elections last year.

Mr Klima last week abandoned efforts to form a minority Social Democrat administration.

Haider apologises to EU critics

Mr Haider and Mr Schuessel have said that their talks to form a coalition government are going well.

Mr Haider has apologised for attacks he made at the weekend about some of his EU critics.

In the weekend outburst, which drew a rebuke from Mr Klestil, Mr Haider called the Belgian Government corrupt and branded French President, Jacques Chirac, a failure.

But on Monday, the far-right leader said: "I didn't mean to attack any foreign government and if anybody feels insulted, then I withdraw those remarks with regret."

"I take back my criticism but I also expect people to respect the result of the Austrian election."