Dutch political leaders have fiercely criticised each other's ideas on security and integration in a televised debate on a popular current affairs TV programme, held ahead of the 3 March local elections.

Socialist Party leader Agnes Kant said Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders was a bigger threat to society than Islam, which Mr Wilders claims poses the main danger. She accused Mr Wilders of looking for scapegoats rather than solutions.

Labour Party leader Wouter Bos said it went too far to call the Freedom Party leader a threat to society, but called his ideas 'unwise'. Mr Wilders, in turn, said the Labour Party's headquarters must be located in Mecca if Mr Bos did not believe "Moroccan scum were spoiling things for the Netherlands".

The leader of the democrat party D66, Alexander Pechtold, argued Mr Wilders was spreading a message of xenophobia. Mark Rutte of the conservative VVD said he did not agree Islam was a threat to the Netherlands, but felt the Labour Party was on a slippery slope because it was trying too hard to please Muslims.

The parliamentary leader of the Christian Democrat party, Pieter van Geel, argued for what he called "real solutions to real problems". In an internet survey held in connection with the debate, viewers chose Geert Wilders as the best debater.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide