German government extends ban on arms exports to Saudi

BERLIN – The German government has extended a ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia by six months until the end of September.

However, in a decision late Thursday, the government made a partial exception for programs that aren't purely German. It said it would push for jointly produced weapons not to be used in the war in Yemen and for no "fully assembled" products to be delivered to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates through the end of this year.

Germany imposed the ban following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul last year. Britain and France have criticized Germany's stance, saying the ban prevents them selling jointly developed equipment with German components to the Gulf nation.