29. 07. 10. - 14:00

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29. 07. 10. - 14:00

Taliban 'use Austrian weapons'

Allied forces fighting in Afghanistan found Austrian weaponry in raided Taliban hideouts, according to leaked files.

Internet portal Wikileaks got hold of secret United States documents suggesting that troops operating in the crisis-stricken country discovered grenades and bomb throwers produced in Austria.

Austrian officials stressed it would be illegal for companies in the country to sell weapons to nations or groups involved in a war or in a region or country where turmoil was likely.

The Austrian interior ministry announced today (Thurs) that Lower Austrian firm Hirtenberger Defence Systems (HDS) was the only weapons manufacturer having applied for permission to export grenades of the type mentioned in the leaked documents.

The Hirtenberg-based business declined to comment on the claims, claiming none of the executives could give a statement due to a current company holiday.

Experts meanwhile said it was possible that the discovered weapons were fakes.

Austria is a neutral and independent country since 1955 when the World war Two allied forces left the country after a 10-year occupation. Its army has however participated in various peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and the Golan Heights at the Syrian-Israeli border among other locations.

Austrian Times

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One in five firms hit by business crimes, says expert
One in five companies are affected by business felonies, according to an internationally-linked detectives body.

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An autopsy has been ordered after the body of a truck driver was found on the Austrian-Hungarian border.

ÖIAG boss hit by mail expenses claims
Austrian industry-holding stock corporation (ÖIAG) chief Peter Michaelis is in hot water amid claims taxpayers’ money was used to pay for shipping of private goods.

Vienna police present hotel safety initiative
Vienna police have announced plans to cooperate with the city’s hotels more closely in a bid to tackle crime.

Strache on Hussein-Haider files as Vienna stink bomb campaign starts
Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has revealed having been offered files allegedly confirming Jörg Haider received money from Saddam Hussein.

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A man accused of killing a brown bear has been excluded from the Carinthian Hunters Association.

Another coming out of transsexual teacher
Austria has seen a second case of a once male teacher set to return after the summer holidays to school as a woman.

Adamovich hits out at judges for acquitting Kampusch kidnapper's pal
The former head of a special Natascha Kampusch investigation group has criticised judges for discharging her kidnapper’s best mate of complicity in suicide charges.

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