Alexander Van der Bellen has won Austria's presidential election, preventing Norbert Hofer from becoming the EU's first far-right head of state, BBC reported on Monday.

Van der Bellen, a pro-EU independent backed by the Greens, beat Hofer by just 31,000 votes among the 4.64m cast.

The president-elect vowed to address the "divisions" among Austrians that the poll had "made visible".

Hofer's campaign had targeted anti-EU feelings and fears about migrants. He said his defeat was a "sad day".

The Freedom Party candidate said on his Facebook page (in German): "Please don't be disheartened. The effort in this election campaign is not wasted, but is an investment for the future."

Source: MENA