Germany is extending the country's border controls for six months, announces Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The border controls, which exist along the entire EU country's border, were due to expire in mid-March, but the issue has been highlighted in the German election campaign.
Social Democratic Scholz sees the announcement as fulfilling his promises to be decisive in the fight against illegal immigration. The Federal Chancellor says that the controls have so far led to 47,000 people being stopped at the border.
Also, the Christian Democratic CDU with its Bavarian sister party CSU, which is leading in opinion polls ahead of the election, has promised to take action to stop illegal immigration.
