Army chief warns Kohl over cuts

Bonn (Reuter) - Further defence cuts suggested by Helmut Kohl would cripple Germany's armed forces, General Klaus Naumann, the military commander, said yesterday.

The Chancellor said this month that he might reduce troop levels below the floor of 370,000 due to be reached in 1995. He angered his Nato allies and his Defence Minister, Volker Ruhe, when he said further cuts could be made to save money desperately needed to help rebuild east Germany.