G8: Germany to help rebuild Italian village destroyed in earthquake 65 years after Nazi massacre

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has pledged to help rebuild an Italian village which was all but destroyed by April's earthquake, 65 years after Nazi troops carried out a massacre of civilians.

Mrs Merkel was accompanied by Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, for her tour of the devastated hamlet, which took place on the sidelines of the G8 summit in nearby L'Aquila.

They inspected the ruins of the local church, which will be rebuilt with the help of £2.6 million donated by Germany.