Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in as caretaker chancellor on Friday, succeeding fellow conservative Karl Nehammer who quit last weekend after his attempt to form a centrist coalition government without the far right failed.

Another leading figure from Austria's centre-right People's Party (ÖVP) has been appointed as the country's acting head of government, amid months of political turmoil resulting from recent elections.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is to serve as interim chancellor until a new government is found, the office of President Alexander van der Bellen announced on Wednesday. Schallenberg is to lead the current coalition between the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the Greens,

VIENNA (Reuters) -Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will take over as caretaker chancellor on Friday from Karl Nehammer, who quit when centrist coalition talks collapsed last weekend, President Alexander Van der Bellen's office said on Wednesday.