BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Ahead of the top-level meeting on the Puma infantry fighting vehicle breakdowns, CDU member of parliament Roderich Kiesewetter has come to the defense of the German arms industry. The latest failures were obviously due to "operating errors and maintenance errors" at the Bundeswehr, he told the Welt television station on Thursday. "In any case, the buck does not stop with the industry, which was quickly prejudged there."

During a firing exercise, all 18 infantry fighting vehicles used had failed, whereupon Lambrecht had the Puma removed from a German NATO commitment in the rapid reaction force. This Friday, the minister plans to discuss the consequences of the incident with top representatives of the defense industry. Kiesewetter stressed that Lambrecht was ultimately responsible for equipment mishaps in the Bundeswehr. "In any case, the minister has the political leadership responsibility."/ax/DP/men