German minister visits `pro-Nazi' army base

The German Defence Minister, Volker Ruehe, has visited the army base where soldiers were suspended earlier this year for sympathising with Nazi views, and said the soldiers involved were not characteristic of the army as a whole.

Mr Ruehe was speaking at Schneeberg in eastern Germany, headquarters of a mountain infantry battalion.

His visit came a day after the announcement of a parliamentary enquiry into extreme right-wing activities in the armed forces.

The soldiers suspended at Schneeberg were accused of watching videos showing soldiers giving the Nazi salute, and talking about killing jews.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service