Berlin - The German government's state banking fund launched its bid on Friday to take full control of troubled mortgage lender Hypo Real Estate (HRE).

The Financial Market Stabilization Fund (SoFFin) said its cash offer of 1.39 euros (1.82 dollars) per share would run until May 4. The price includes a premium of 10 per cent on the statutory minimum offer of 1.26 euros, SoFFin said.

The takeover was made possible by a special law which came into effect on April 9.

Berlin  - At least 24 p

Washington  - In the latest of legal scuffles, alleged Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk was given a reprieve Thursday until next week in his fight to stay in the United States instead of being deported to Germany to stand trial.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio asked justice officials for a medical report on the 89-year-old man, setting a deadline for April 23 for the information.

Demjanjuk's lawyer and family have argued that he is too frail and ill to stand trial in Germany.

Hamburg - A German container ship rescued 75 passengers from a sinking passenger ship off the coast of Tanzania on Thursday, a spokesman for the German ship's operators said.

He said the MS Dorian responded to an SOS from the stricken vessel after other ships in the vicinity declined to provide assistance, fearing the call was a trap set by pirates.

The incident happened in an area where pirates have often attacked commercial shipping and held their crews for ransom.

Herzogenaurach, Germany  - A French car parts factory is to close with a loss of 195 jobs, the owner, German automotive parts company Schaeffler, said Thursday at its offices in Herzogenaurach.

The site at St. Simeon de Bressieux, near the south-eastern city of Grenoble, makes timing chains for engines.