'Racist' assault alarms Germans

The 37-year-old engineer suffered extensive skull and rib injuries in the attack by two men in Potsdam, eastern Germany, early on Sunday.

About 100 foreigners have been killed in attacks by neo-Nazis since German reunification in 1990.

The racist attacks have been most common in the formerly communist east.

Prosecutors in Potsdam have offered a 5,000-euro (£3,460; $6,052) reward for information leading to the arrest of the attackers.

The man is reported to have phoned his wife on his mobile during the confrontation and a racist insult could be heard on her voicemail.

"We will not tolerate anyone in our state being persecuted, beaten or even killed in our state because of their skin colour or religion," Brandenburg Interior Minister Joerg Schoenbohm said.