Arms trade

Germany extends Saudi Arabia arms sales ban

Germany has extended a temporary ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia, imposed due to concerns about the kingdom's role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The embargo was due to expire on March 9, but Germany's foreign minister said on Wednesday the ban was being extended until the end of March to give the government time to evaluate Saudi Arabia's military involvement in Yemen's war.

"We decided this with a view to developments in Yemen," Heiko Maas said after a meeting of Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet.

"We believe that the Yemen war must end as soon as possible."

"Not only will there not be any permits issued until the end of this month, but products with permits already granted will also not be delivered," he added.

There are no concrete casualty statistics for the war in Yemen. In 2017, a UN official said 10,000 civilians had been killed, though rights groups say the death toll could be five times that, due to fighting, starvation and disease. Millions are on the brink of starvation.