Former Dutch health minister killed 'because of euthanasia law'

A man has admitted stabbing a former Dutch health minister to death because she was responsible for the Netherlands' euthanasia law.

The man, identified only as Bart van U because of privacy rules, claimed the killing was an "order from God".

Rotterdam Court spokesman Pelle Biesmeijer said the suspect made the confession during a closed hearing.

Former health minister Els Borst, who drafted the nation's landmark 2002 law legalising euthanasia, was stabbed to death at her home two years ago.

The leader of Borst's D66 party, Alexander Pechtold, said his "worst fears have been realised".

He said Borst was killed "because of her socially and politically groundbreaking work on euthanasia."