Immigration hardliner Karl Nehammer to take over as Austrian leader

Sebastian Kurz has sent party in disarray since stepping down as chancellor in October

Austria's ruling conservatives have picked the interior minister, an immigration hardliner, to lead them and the nation after a wave of resignations by senior officials set off by Sebastian Kurz.

Karl Nehammer succeeds Kurz as party chief and will lead the coalition government with the Greens. He takes over a party in disarray since Kurz stepped down as chancellor in October because he had been placed under criminal investigation on suspicion of corruption offences.