BONN, DEC 12: German authorities are to take steps to keep known neo-Nazis out of the Army, Defence Minister Volker Ruehe said on Thursday in the wake of a series of scandals.

Ruehe told a press conference that he had agreed with Justice Minister Edzard Schmidt-Jortzig that recruits should be checked against the register of political extremists kept by the domestic intelligence agency. Those facing legal action for neo-Nazi and related activities should also be barred from the call-up, Ruehe said.

A series of scandals related to Nazi activities in the armed forces have hit the headlines recently.

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