President loses wife and mistress

Austria's President, Thomas Klestil, ended his 37-year marriage and bowed to separation from his mistress yesterday after a scandal that threatened his position as head of state, Reuter reports from Vienna.

Mr Klestil had some consolation in two opinion polls showing huge sympathy and support for his continued presidency, but announced he had failed to make up with his wife, Edith. His office said Margot Loffler, his mistress, had asked for a Foreign Ministry post abroad.