Germany and France order military Airbus

Germany and France have confirmed that they have decided to place orders for the military version of the European Airbus, the A400M.

The decision was announced in the German city of Mainz, where their joint defence and security council has been meeting as part of the one-day summit of the French and German leaders.

In a statement, they said Germany required seventy-five of the aircraft and France wanted fifty.

Correspondents say the decision gives the signal for production of the fast new military transport to go ahead.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service