The lawyer representing the family of the senior German opposition politician who committed suicide on Thursday, Wolfgang Huellen, has challenged the party's claim that he took his life for personal reasons.

German television quoted the lawyer Wolfgang Wahkers as saying there was nothing in his private life to prompt his suicide.

The opposition Christian Democratic Union -- for whom Mr Huellen worked as party treasurer -- said his death did not appear to be linked to the financial scandals surrounding the party. Public prosecutors have begun investigating whether Mr Huellen or his associates were involved in embezzlement of funds.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service