(Adds injuries and arrests in third paragraph)

By Ruben Sprich

BERNE, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Swiss police fired teargas and anti-right-wing protesters hurled rocks and bottles during a political rally in Switzerland's capital on Saturday as tensions grew ahead of a divisive national election.

The clashes occurred when hundreds of demonstrators sought to prevent as many as 10,000 supporters of the anti-immigrant Switzerland's People's Party (SVP/UDC) from marching through the streets of Berne.

Berne police spokesman Franz Maerki said 43 protesters were arrested and three were hurt in the skirmishes that surprised many in the normally staid Alpine country. Some 17 police officers were also injured.

The SVP, which is poised to be the largest vote-winner in the Oct. 21 national vote, has polarised the Swiss electorate with its campaign messages that many perceive as anti-Islamic.

The party has drawn criticism from human rights experts at the United Nations, whose European headquarters is in Geneva, for its calls against minarets in Swiss cities and its campaign posters calling for "black sheep" foreigners to be kicked out.

In a statement circulated after the rally, the party said the skirmishes in Berne were an affront to freedom of expression, and said its leftist rivals destroyed public property and damaged cars while SVP supporters acted peacefully.

The SVP said 10,000 people participated in its march, though local media estimated the crowd size at between 5,000 and 6,000.

The Social Democratic Party (SP), which is trailing the SVP in the lead-up to the election, also denounced the disruption which it said compromised the right-wing party's entitlement to free expression and association.

"These democratic rights need to be guaranteed for all," the Social Democrats said, adding: "The violence committed today by the demonstrators was unacceptable, and the (SP) strongly condemns it."

The SVP has gained popularity in recent years under the pugnacious leadership of industrialist Christoph Blocher, who has won over many Swiss voters with his anti-European Union, isolationist message.

Switzerland is governed by a seven-member federal council in which the SVP currently holds two seats. Blocher serves as justice minister in the multi-party council.

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