The Spanish Government is to take legal action against an American healthcare firm, in connection with the deaths of 11 kidney patients in Spain.

The American company - Baxter International - has acknowledged that its faulty dialysis equipment may have played a role in the deaths.

The Spanish Health Minister, Celia Villalobos, said the lawsuit would be for breach of contract, and would seek what she called a considerable sum of money.

Investigations are under way in six other countries, where the deaths of more than 40 kidney patients have been linked with Baxter's dialysis equipment.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service