Austrian panel strikes ball from culture list (AP)

VIENNA ? A committee reporting to the U.N.'s culture organization has struck the Viennese Ball from its list of Austrian cultural traditions.

The move follows massive criticism of one of the events named by the Austrian UNESCO Commission as part of its list of balls it considers an "Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria."

Critics say the ball, staged in part by dueling fraternities, draws neo-Nazis from Austria and Germany. Organizers reject any links to the extreme right.

The committee announced its decision in an email Thursday to The Associated Press, describing the inclusion of the fraternity ball on its list as "a major mistake."

U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization spokeswoman Sue Williams describes the committee as a "go-between" between Austria's government and the Paris-based organization.

(This version CORRECTS name of organization.)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120119/ap_on_re_eu/eu_austria_rightist_ball

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