German chancellor wants Muslim burqa banned

Angela Merkel has called for the Muslimburqa to be banned "wherever legally possible" in Germany.

The German leader also said that the refugee crisis "must never be repeated" - as she addressed her party in her bid for a fourth term as the country's Chancellor.

Ms Merkel said she would support a nationwide ban of the 'full-face veil' during her speech to the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

She told delegates: "The full-face veil must be banned, wherever it is legally possible."

The comment was made with enthusiastic applause from the auditorium.

Ms Merkel's popularity in Germany has been on the wain - with much criticism levelled at her "open door" policy for refugees fleeing war in the Middle East.

Almost 900,000 asylum seekers entered Germany last year - giving rise to fears over problems with the integration of 'different cultures'.

Reports of sexual attacks involving immigrants have heightened tensions.

Her decision to take in thousands of refugees stuck in Hungary in September 2015 was also subject to widespread criticism - although Merkel was praised for her actions on the world stage where other leaders had 'failed to act'.

"That was and is our, and my, declared political aim."

Germany has already moved towards a controversial partial ban on the burka in response to public concern about Muslim integration.

Two Islamic State-inspired terror attacks - one involving an axeman and the other a suicide bomber - have caused elements within Merkel's government and party to push for more to be done.

Merkel's conservative party is under pressure from the right wing anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party.

Legal experts have warned any ban would almost certainly be challenged in the German courts.