Talks to form a coalition government led by Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) will begin on Friday, the party said on Thursday, as thousands protested in Vienna against the prospect of the country's first FPO-led government.

VIENNA - Austria's Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl said on Tuesday that he planned to invite the conservative People's Party for coalition talks. Kickl's announcement came one day after he was given a mandate by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen to form a new government.

Austria's far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) began coalition talks with the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the latter said on Thursday, after the failure of previous parties to form a government.

Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won September's parliamentary election with 29% of the vote, is due to start coalition talks with the conservative People's Party (OVP) this week aimed at creating the country's first FPO-led government.