The German Interior Minister, Otto Schily, has said his country does not have the capacity to absorb any more immigrants.

He was speaking to the newspaper, Tagesspiegel.

Referring to intended reform of the laws on nationality, Mr Schily said that even if there were new laws now, an immigration commission would have to set future quotas at zero.

About seven million non-Germans currently live in Germany.

Mr Schily said the issue was not of immediate concern and would have to be dealt with in conjunction with the other members of the European Union.

Meanwhile a fourteen year old Turkish boy, born and bred in Germany, is being held in a youth centre in Istanbul after being deported there from Germany yesterday because of his crime record.