E German ships for Indonesia

BERLIN - The German Defence Ministry said it planned to sell 39 ships from the former East German navy stocks to Indonesia, writes Adrian Bridge. The 14 landing vessels, nine minesweepers and 16 speedboats constitute the bulk of the navy stocks inherited after unification in 1990.

Germany's constitution forbids arms sales to countries considered 'crisis areas'. 'Indonesia does not come within that category,' said a spokesman.