Germany rejects Greek war reparations call

Germany's economy minister on Monday rejected calls by Greece's new prime minister for Berlin to pay reparations for World War II damages by the Nazis, insisting the issue was concluded 25 years ago.

"The likelihood is zero," Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Germany's vice-chancellor, said at a gathering of his Social Democrats in Brandenburg state near Berlin. He was responding to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who said in parliament late Sunday that his country had a "moral obligation" to claim payment from Germany for a forced wartime loan and other reparations.