Free Republic

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian-born film star-turned- politician Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) joined a big gathering of heads of state Saturday at the funeral of Austrian president Thomas Klestil, who died this week two days before completing his term. The California governor attended a requiem mass for Klestil in Vienna's St Stephen's Cathedral along with Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), Spain's Crown Prince Felipe, former Czech president Vaclav Havel and other foreign dignitaries. Klestil, son of a Vienna tram driver who became a career diplomat, helped restore the presidency's image after a controversy dating back to...

VIENNA (Reuters) - Film star-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) returned to his native Austria for the state funeral Saturday of his friend, President Thomas Klestil, who died Tuesday on the eve of retirement. The California governor joined dozens of heads of state and foreign dignitaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), at a requiem mass for Klestil in Vienna's St Stephen's Cathedral. "He was a dear friend to me and will be greatly missed," Schwarzenegger said of Klestil in a statement Thursday. President Bush (news - web sites) chose Schwarzenegger, a fellow Republican, to represent...

VIENNA, Austria -- President Thomas Klestil, who brought calm to an office frayed by controversy surrounding his predecessor's past in the Nazi army, died Tuesday, doctors said. He was 71. Earlier Tuesday, medical officials said Klestil was in very critical condition after facing a multiple organ failure. Klestil's heart stopped beating Monday as he was being flown by helicopter to Vienna's General Hospital after being found unconscious. He was admitted in critical condition, and doctors said they could not rule out brain damage as a possible result of lack of oxygen before hospital staff got his heart functioning again.

TEHRAN - Austrian President Thomas Klestil said on Wednesday that he was not inclined to accept the "axis of evil" accusation of U.S. President George W. Bush as, according to him, the world should believe in the good intentions of countries. He made the remark in a meeting with the visting Iranian Interior Minister, Abdolvahed Mousavi, in Vienna. Expressing regret over what he said are the "negative reports" against the Iranian government, he said that the global media would rather keep silent on the remarkable role being played by Iran on international causes such as the anti-drug campaign and Afghan...