Fortuyn's party disputes top job

ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands -- The young party of assassinated right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn appears to be at loggerheads over his successor ahead of next week's election.

The party, Pim Fortuyn List, has said it is "united in our intention" to fight the May 15 general election despite some of Fortuyn's family saying it should be disbanded.

The party had been expected to take about 17 percent in Wednesday's vote, possibly thrusting it into power within a coalition government.

A sympathy vote could strengthen its position still further, some analysts say, although the first serious opinion polls since Fortuyn's death will not be taken until Monday.

A funeral mass was held for Fortuyn, the flamboyant and openly gay leader, on Friday at Rotterdam's Catholic Cathedral.

The party's treasurer Peter Langendam, 53, was appointed chairman, Reuters news agency reported on Saturday.

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Langendam, a Rotterdam businessman, helped set up the party two months ago, but he may be challenged for top spot by the party's deputy chairman John Dost who proclaimed himself as the new leader on Friday.

Party spokesman Mat Herben, a former public relations officer, also laid claim to the leadership on Saturday saying that Dost had spoken out of turn and that a political successor to Fortuyn would only be picked after the election.

Fortuyn's number two Joao Varla, 27, had been seen as a possible successor immediately after the killing but his inexperience and African background is seen to have counted against him in an anti-immigration party.

Fortuyn's coffin will remain at his family's vault on the Dutch coast until his body is moved to the village in Italy where he had a holiday home.

Blast at politician's home

An explosion ripped apart a car parked in front of the house of a local politician in the southern Netherlands on Saturday.

No one was injured in the blast, which severely damaged a car belonging to the wife of a another politician, a city alderman in Brunssum, near the German border and about 12 miles from the Dutch city of Maastricht.

Police said the explosive may have been a grenade.

The politician was identified as J. Steiner of the local Christian Democratic party.

Steiner told police he feared the motive was political and requested police security, the national broadcasting company NOS reported.