Brussels: Several European far-right parties today announced a new organisation aimed at fighting the "Islamisation" of Europe, organisers said.

The group dubbed "Cities against Islamisation" was presented to the media in the northern Belgian city of Antwerp by Filip Dewinter, head of the far-right Belgian party Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) along with Austrian FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strace and Robert Spieler of the regionalist Alsace First group.

Parties from Britain (the British National Party), Denmark, Germany and Italy were also represented at the launch of the group which has a road-sign-style crossed-out mosque as its logo.

"We have to stop the opening of mosques in cities like Antwerp," said Vlaams Belang official Bert Debie. "We have to stop the arrival of Muslim immigrants and Islamist shops must respect Belgian laws on hygiene and social rules or be closed down," he told AFP.

Thirty members of the new organisation then set off on a "walk" around areas of Antwerp with a high immigrant population. "We have had a very good reception from some Flemish people who still live here," said Debie, an ex-police officer turned local councillor.

Source : PTI