Joerg Haider killed

Just days after Austrian extremists did disturbingly well in parliamentary elections, the country's best-known far-rightist has died in a car crash:

Austrian politicians from all sides paid tribute to far right leader Joerg Haider, who was killed in a car crash on Saturday, describing him as a talented and charismatic yet highly controversial leader.

The accident occurred near Klagenfurt, capital of the province of Carinthia where 58-year-old Haider was governor -- around 2 am (0000 GMT), police official Meinhard Schiller told German news agency dpa.

Haider was driving by himself when his car veered off the road after passing another vehicle. It then hit several obstacles, including a concrete foundation of a fence, and flipped over several times.

The politician died on the way to a local hospital from serious injuries to the head, neck and chest, according to Thomas Koperna, medical chief of the Klagenfurt hospital. His left arm was almost severed, he said.

Police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident, in which no one else was injured.

The conspiracy theories have already begun. I'm not celebrating Haider's death, but I will not mourn the untimely demise of a Jew-baiting Saddam apologist, either.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at October 11, 2008 11:48 AM