 - Patients who have never been treated for hypertension or in whom previous antihypertensive drug treatment has been discontinued for at least four weeks before the last run-in visit can be randomised. If two weeks after discontinuation of previous antihypertensive treatment the blood pressure is higher than 160 mm Hg systolic or higher than 100 mm Hg diastolic and if the patient has complaints, the patient can be randomised immediately to active blood pressure lowering treatment with either the newer or older antihypertensive drugs. 