The World - News from Feb. 28, 1988

Former Austrian Chancellor Fred Sinowatz offered to resign as chairman of the Socialist Party if it would open the way for embattled President Kurt Waldheim to leave office as a result of the furor over his alleged links to World War II crimes. The conservative Austrian People’s Party, which backed Waldheim in his 1986 race for the presidency, has alleged that the Socialist Party and Sinowatz had leaked information about Waldheim’s war record when it became obvious that their own candidate had no chance against him. Sinowatz, in a television interview, hinted that the two parties, which make up Austria’s coalition government, were working on a deal for twin resignations, But Foreign Minister Alois Mock, People’s Party chairman, rejected such a deal.