In pictures: Vienna's ball

Austria's glitterati waltzed at the Vienna Opera Ball on Thursday as thousands of citizens continued their protests against the far-right Freedom Party's inclusion in government. Scenes inside the opera house contrasted with scuffles outside.


Despite the adverse publicity, organisers said the event was a sell-out success.


Present at the ball were Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and his far-right Vice-Chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer.


Undeterred by the political row, Austrian industrialist Richard Lugner with (from left) wife Christina, actress Jacqueline Bissett and German TV presenter Nadja Abdel Farrag.


Over 1,000 officers were deployed outside.


Facing them, a crowd of up to 15,000 anti-fascist demonstrators.


At one point some 500 tried to force their way through the lines of police, but according to the authorities the demonstration remained largely peaceful.