Germany agrees to Turkish request to allow comedian prosecution over poem about Turkey's president

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her government has granted a request from Turkey to allow the possible prosecution of a comedian who wrote a crude poem about the Turkish president.

Turkey demanded last week that Jan Boehmermann be prosecuted for insulting a foreign head of state - an offence in Germany. Under the law, the government needs to grant permission for prosecutors to press charges.

Boehmermann read his poem on German television to show what he said would not be allowed in Germany.

The poem made references to sex with goats and sheep, as well as the repression of Turkish minorities.

Ms Merkel said the decision "means neither a pre-judgment of the person affected nor a decision about the limits of freedom of art, the press and opinion".

The request from Turkey raised an awkward dilemma for Germany, at a time when Ms Merkel is relying on Turkish help to reduce the influx of migrants coming to Europe.

The issue has also prompted debate about freedom of speech in Germany, with Ms Merkel saying that the government plans to repeal the law effective in 2018.