Parting gesture

President Thomas Klestil was parted professionally from his mistress yesterday after the Foreign Minister, Alois Mock, met Margot Loeffler and promised to find the diplomat a quick posting abroad after several weeks of leave, Reuter reports from Vienna.

After announcing last week that he would live apart from his wife while Ms Loeffler would quit 'as soon as possible', Mr Klestil decided Ms Loeffler would join him on a trip to Egypt. Her trip has been cancelled.