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--> --> Lawmaker shot, killed in Amsterdam AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Right-wing Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was shot six times and killed today, Dutch television reported. Police had confirmed Fortuyn was shot in the head and gravely wounded. The television said he was shot six times in the head, neck and chest. The attack came nine days before national elections. Fortuyn was leaving a radio interview in Hilversum, about 10 miles southeast of Amsterdam, when he was attacked. Paramedics treated Fortuyn where he fell at the entrance to a building, but it was too late and he was not taken to hospital. Opinion polls predicted the 53-year-old politician, campaigning on an anti-immigrant platform, would lead one of the largest parties in parliament in the May 15 elections. The former academic and columnist leads an openly gay lifestyle, supports personal liberties, and has laid claim to leadership of the Netherlands' perennially vacant political right. Fortuyn has dictated debate during the campaign with verbal attacks on the country's growing Muslim population and and strident criticism of the national government. No information was immediately available about the assailant. Witnesses said the shooter fled and was chased by at least four people after attacking Fortuyn. "I saw Pim Fortuyn lying on the ground with a bullet wound in his head," said television reporter Dave Abspoel. Dutch television, quoting witnesses, said Fortuyn was leaving the building to go to his car after an interview with the 3FM radio network when he was gunned down. Eyewitnesses spoke of several shots being fired. Fortuyn's rise mirrors a right-wing resurgence in several European countries, lately highlighted by the anti-immigrant Jean Marie Le Pen's surprise showing in the first round of French presidential elections. He was soundly defeated in Sunday's run-off vote by incumbent Jacques Chirac. Fortuyn's platform seemed out of place in the Netherlands, which has a reputation for liberalism. It was the first country to legalize gay marriages, regulate prostitution, approve and control euthanasia, and tolerate the over-the-counter sale of marijuana in hundreds of "coffee shops." Though tolerant of such subcultures, Fortuyn's popularity has exposed a deep vein of suspicion of immigrants in Europe's most densely populated country, about 2 million of whose 16 million people are not native Dutch. About 800,000 are Muslims. Prime Minister Wim Kok broke off campaigning in the western city of Haarlem. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing