Berlin  - The governments of Germany, Britain and the Netherlands pledged Wednesday to increase cooperation on countering Islamic extremism, at the opening of a joint symposium.

The opening event was attended by German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, his British counterpart, and a representative of the Dutch interior ministry.

British Interior Minister Jacqui Smith said, "It's clear that we share a common threat that demands a united response, even if the specific nature of that threat differs from country to country."

"We can learn a lot from each other, not only in how we can counter the threat, but also how we can coordinate our actions," she added.

Berlin/Cairo  - German archaeologists may have tricked Egyptian customs officials into allowing them to smuggle the bust of Queen Nefertiti to Berlin nearly a century ago, according to a secret document unearthed recently.

The German magazine Der Spiegel revealed details of the document, which could prompt calls from Egypt for a return of the 3,400-year-figure of the pharaonic queen, hailed as the world's most beautiful woman.

Berlin - Germany condemned Wednesday's "murderous attacks" on Afghan government offices in Kabul, which left more than 20 people dead.

The attacks appeared designed to "undermine the functionality of important pillars of the nascent Afghan political system," according to a statement released by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"This must not be allowed to happen," the minister said, pledging that Germany would continue to work for the creation of an "Afghan state that guarantees the security and freedom of its citizens."

Berlin - Thieves posing as customers officers robbed two Italian truckers of their money and passports on a stretch of German autobahn north-west of Berlin, police said Wednesday.

The phoney customs officials flagged down the men's truck on Tuesday in Fehrbellin and ordered them to drive to a parking lot adjacent to the motorway.

The con men, who were in an unmarked car, produced badges identifying themselves as customs officers. They checked the documents of the unsuspecting driver and his assistant and asked them how much money they had on them.

Berlin - Troubled German mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate is to received another 10 billion euros (12.9 billion dollars) in state credit guarantees, the company said Wednesday.

The funds will be made available by Soffin, a federal government agency which is administering Berlin's 480-billion euro bank rescue fund.

Hypo Real Estate has emerged as one of Germany's most prominent casualties in the US-sparked subprime housing crisis.

Berlin - Hundreds of German motorists slept in their cars Tu