Germany to sell Leopard II tanks to Turkey

However, no official confirmation of the deal was available from the German Defense Ministry on Tuesday. A spokesman for the ministry only said that Defense Minister Peter Struck would pay a visit to Turkey in November.

On Monday, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Germany is considering loosening restrictions it has placed on arms exports to Turkey after Turkey begins membership talks with the EU.

Under German law, arms can not be exported to crisis regions. In the past, Germany has refused to deliver tanks to Turkey because they might be used against the Kurdish minority.

EU leaders are due to consider whether to start entry talks with Turkey in December. Enditem