Schroeder urges legal moves against NDP

The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has urged legislators to pursue moves to ban the far-right National Democratic Party, despite fears the plan could backfire because of legal hurdles. Speaking to German diplomats in Berlin, Mr Schroeder said an application to ban the NPD should be made even if there was only a trace of a legal opportunity.

He said Germany simply could not tolerate neo-Nazi violence and hatred of foreigners.

The party -- which has been blamed for a recent spate of racist attacks -- has said it will fight any attempt to ban it.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service