Civil rights groups in Germany have reacted angrily to the German parliament's narrow approval of measures which will allow police to use electronic eavesdropping techniques on private homes.

They say guarantees of civil liberties in the German constitution have been eroded.

The government says the measures bring Germany into line with other European Union countries in fighting organised crime.

Opponents are pressing a parliamentary committee, which is to meet shortly, to include a number of exemptions in the legislation, including journalists.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service