German stars to campaign against extremism

Jewish leaders in Germany have joined a top government official in a plan to recruit celebrities to mobilise public resistance against right-wing extremist attacks.

The government spokesman, Uwe-Karsten Heye, said the new initiative would be called "Show Your Face", and he would personally invite stars from the world of film, television and sport to a big event to launch the campaign in Berlin later next month.

The leader of Germany's Jewish community, Paul Spiegel, said the recent spiral of violence had created an unbearable situation which he had never expected to happen again in Germany. The aim of the initiative is to collect money to fund local organisations fighting the extreme right.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service