There were scuffles between officers and about 50 Anti-Nazi League (ANL) protesters chanting slogans outside the Park Lane Hilton where he was holding a news conference.

Haider: "I've never been a supporter of the Nazi regime"

Inside the hotel, four ANL protesters got within a few feet of the conference room, before being bundled out by security guards.

Earlier in the evening, the Mayfair Intercontinental Hotel had cancelled the news conference for "security reasons".

Julie Waterson of the Anti-Nazi League said: "I think we've made it very clear that Haider and his despicable views are not welcome in Britain."

Mr Haider's Austrian Freedom Party came second in the country's elections last week after running an anti-immigrant campaign.

Haider has met electoral success and international protests

Mr Haider has previously praised the Nazis' "decent employment policies" and described former members of the SS as "men of character".

He is touring European cities to try to shed his extremist image.

At the news conference, Mr Haider denied he was a Nazi.

"I've never been a supporter of the Nazi regime. There have been misunderstandings during political discussions," he said.

He said he had come to Britain to promote Austrian interests.

"It's not a journey to justify anything. There was such a public interest we decided to make an introductory tour."

'Most unwelcome visitor'

Neville Nagler, director-general of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described Mr Haider as a "most unwelcome visitor".

He said: "This is a man who has praised Hitler's employment policies and gone out of his way to associate with SS veterans.

"We feel sure that no leading figure in this country will wish to meet or have any contact with him.

"He is a most unwelcome visitor and we trust that this will be brought home to him throughout his visit."

The Foreign Office in London said Mr Haider would not be seeing any UK Government representative during his stay.