German army says tank trainers attacked by youths in Chile

Nine German soldiers sent to Chile to instruct troops on driving German tanks were attacked by a group of youths, the German army said Saturday.

An army spokesman said the soldiers were threatened and tied up on Thursday night at their accommodation in the northern city of Iquique.

He said that Chilean police freed the Germans. Five local youths, ages 14 to 20, were arrested, he said. Further details were not immediately available.

The German soldiers were in Iquique to train their Chilean counterparts in driving German Leopard tanks. Chile has agreed to buy a total of 140 of the tanks from Germany's Bundeswehr.