Former German minister Genscher testifies in CDU slush fund probe

The committee is investigating a slush fund kept by ex-chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic Union and illegal donations to the party. It has been alleged that millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks were paid in the 1991 sale of German tanks to Saudi Arabia, some of which may have gone to the CDU. "The importance that this concrete complex is given today naturally did not exist back then," Genscher said.

Given that Germany did not send troops to the Gulf War, Kohl's government had been under big pressure to provide arms to countries in the region, Genscher told the committee. The chairman of the investigating committee, Volker Neumann of the Social Democrat SPD, alleged Thursday that 47 per cent of the price paid for the Fuchs (Fox) tanks supplied to Saudi Arabia had actually been bribes totalling over 200 million marks (nearly 100 million dollars). Kohl himself was expected to face sharp questioning over the tank sale.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which governed the country until 1998, has been rocked by scandal since November 1999. CDU federal and state leaders have admitted to some 50 million marks (24 million dollars) in illicit funds and Kohl has personally admitted taking two million marks in illegal cash donations for the party - but has refused to name the source.

Parliament has so far fined the CDU 49 million marks. The party has appealed the fines. Kohl, 70, is a target of both the parliamentary investigation and a separate criminal probe by state prosecutors. He was German chancellor from 1982 to 1998, until he was defeated in elections by Gerhard Schroeder, and CDU leader from 1973 to 1998. He is still a member of parliament for the CDU.

(la/dpa)