Schumacher facing criminal investigation

State prosecutors in the German city of Cologne have launched a criminal investigation against the former Formula-One world champion racing driver, Michael Schumacher, following his collision with his rival, Jacques Villeneuve, at last year's Grand Prix in Spain.

Prosecutors said they had been asked by an unnamed person in Frankfurt to investigate Schumacher's actions as attempted manslaughter.

Correspondents say that under German law, prosecutors are generally obliged to investigate if there are complaints from the public but this investigation is unlikely to result in any charges being brought against Schumacher.

As a result of the collision, motor racing's governing body, FIA, stripped the Ferrari driver of his second place in the 1997 drivers' championship last November.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service