German anti-immigrant candidate walks out of TV debate

Alice Weidel of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AFD) addresses a news conference in Berlin, Germany August 21, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - One of the top candidates for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in this month's election walked out of a live television debate on Tuesday night after being accused of failing to distance herself from right-wingers.

The right-wing AfD has gained support by slamming Chancellor Angela Merkel's 2015 decision to open the borders to refugees and is set to enter the national parliament for the first time after the Sept. 24 election. Polls put it on 7-11 percent.