Party set to eject Jewish row MP

Mr Hohmann initially refused to apologise

Germany's conservative opposition has begun the process of expelling from the party an MP accused of making anti-Semitic remarks.

The Christian Democrat (CDU)parliamentary and regional parties on Monday each set in motion the ejection of representative Martin Hohmann.

"CDU members must know what the acceptable borders are," said party leader Angela Merkel in Berlin.

The government has accused the CDU of failing to deal with Mr Hohmann.

Ms Merkel said she had wanted to give him a chance and acted to eject him from the parliamentary party only after he made what was seen by many as a half-hearted apology.

"This was a difficult and regrettable decision," she said.

"But Mr Hohmann refused to show any willingness to renounce those views. The step was necessary to prevent further damage."

In a speech made in his Hesse constituency on 2 October, Mr Hohmann compared the actions of Jewish bolsheviks in the Russian revolution to those of Nazi Germans in World War II.

The speech has sparked outrage in the national and international media.

The row has also claimed the career of one of Germany's top generals.

Reinhard Guenzel was sacked as head of the elite special forces after he wrote a letter backing Mr Hohmann's views.