German anger growing over tanks sale to Saudis

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was under pressure last night to address reports that the country's security council had approved the sale of 200 tanks to Saudi Arabia, after a Green MP suggested bribes "could have played a role" in the decision.

Hans-Christian Ströbele, a member of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, said payments similar to those made during the German sale of armoured personnel carriers to Saudi Arabia in 1991 could have been made in this case, according to an interview in Süddeutsche Zeitung yesterday. However, Mr Ströbele also admitted he had "no evidence" to support this claim.

Saudi security sources confirmed this week the multibillion-euro deal for 200 Leopard 2 tanks, but the Chancellor has maintained what the German media called an "iron silence".

Critics argue that the sale contravenes Germany's strict rules on arms exports, which ban the sale of weapons to countries in crisis zones, those engaged in armed conflicts, and those with questionable human rights records. Saudi forces rolled into Bahrain earlier this year to help suppress pro-democracy protests.

Without confirming or denying the sale, the Deputy Economy Minister, Hans-Joachim Otto, defended arms exports on Wednesday, explaining that the tanks would strengthen Saudi defences against Iran. He called the Gulf country an ally in the fight against terrorism.

"It's known to everyone here that Saudi Arabia is a regional superpower with respect to Iran," he said. "There are factors at play here that have far-reaching consequences."