Thursday, November 09, 2000, updated at 15:04(GMT+8)
World
German Government Decides on NPD Ban
The German government made a decision on November 8 to submit to the country's highest court a request to ban the extreme right National Democratic Party (NPD).
Interior Minister Otto Schily said he was optimistic that the Karlsruhe-based Federal Constitutional Court would rule in favor of the ban, although court proceedings could take one year.
However, the government will not send a written request to the court until the end of this year, after two chambers of the parliament follow suit and also submit their own or second the request.
German security authorities claim that NPD's pursuit of Nazi goals as well as anti-Semitism and racism through provocative demonstrations, poses a threat to the German Constitution and has led to increased violence against foreigners and immigrants.
The German government made a decision on November 8 to submit to the country's highest court a request to ban the extreme right National Democratic Party (NPD).