A government minister from the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, which is part of the ruling coalition says she's stepping down from her post.

The announcement by the Transport Minister, Monika Forstinger, is just the latest in a series of crises to have hit the junior partner in Austria's coalition government.

Last week, it had to contend with the controversial visit by its former leader, Joerg Haider, to Iraq, where he met President Saddam Hussein.

Following sharp criticism from the United States, the Austrian Chancellor, Wolfgang Schuessel, and members of his own party, Mr Haider announced on Friday that he was withdrawing from national politics for good.

Private sector

Two days later, after an emergency meeting of the Freedom Party leadership, he said he would continue to support his party at the national level.

Now, following months of rumours about her position, the Transport Minister, Monika Forstinger, says she's stepping down to take a job in the private sector.

She's been replaced by Mathias Reichhold, who's said to be a close and trusted associate of Mr Haider's.

Mrs Forstinger is the fourth minister from the Freedom Party to step down since it came to power two years ago.