Prosecutors in Germany investigating the funding scandal surrounding the main opposition party, the Christian Democrats, have raided the home of a close associate of the former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

The raid on the home of Hans Terlinden -- the former administrative director of the CDU -- came as Mr Kohl chose to stand down as party's honorary chairman rather than name the sources of political donations he failed to declare while in office.

The party leader, Wolfgang Schaeuble, who's also admitted failing to declare a large political donation, said after a party meeting on the funding scandal that he will not resign. The BBC Berlin Correspondent says the CDU is mired in scandal and the decision to let Mr Schaeuble remain in office indicates the difficulty of finding a replacement untainted by the present crisis.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service