Germany delays Saudi tank sale deal
Frankfurt, May 5, 2013
The German government has put off a decision on a tank sale to Saudi Arabia until after the federal election in September, a defence source said.
Germany's national security council, which includes Chancellor Angela Merkel and some cabinet ministers, must approve large arms sales and the government never comments on its decisions.
However, the government has approved the sale to Indonesia of about 100 used Leopard 2 tanks and 50 armoured personnel carriers,the source added.
Indonesia, southeast Asia's largest economy, had previously indicated it would buy 130 Leopard tanks from Germany's Rheinmetall AG as part of a $15 billion five-year campaign to modernise its military.-Reuters
