German professors challenge the Euro

Four professors - including a former board member of the Bundesbank - have filed a petition in Germany's Constitutional Court in an attempt to delay Germany's participation in European Monetary Union.

The professors argue that their basic constitutional rights to economic stability would be violated if monetary union went ahead as planned in 1999.

They say that the criteria for the new currency - the euro - will not be met in time for its launch, and that the euro will be less stable than the German Mark.

Correspondents say legal experts give the petition only a slim chance of success.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service