German MPs approve bigger bailout fund

Members of parliament in Germany have voted by a large majority in favour of a bigger and more powerful bailout fund to help troubled economies in the Eurozone.

Five-hundred and twenty-three deputies in the Bundestag approved the bill, 85 voted against and three abstained in the 620-seat chamber. Nine members were not present.

Axel Shaeffe, a member of the SDP which is the centre left party in German politics, backed the plan.