German nationalist party: won't tolerate far-right contacts

BERLIN – A leader of a rising German nationalist party says it won't tolerate members having contact with the far right, comments that come after the leadership dissolved one of its local branches.

Alternative for Germany, or AfD, announced Thursday it was disbanding its branch in western Saarland state over "serious infringements of the party's political objectives and internal order." That followed a report by Stern magazine alleging contacts between two local party leaders and far-right figures.

AfD co-leader Joerg Meuthen told Bild newspaper Friday the party had to act. He said: "There is no tolerance in AfD of contacts with the far-right scene ... anyone who violates (that rule) must face the consequences."

AfD powered into three state legislatures in elections March 13 after campaigning against Germany's liberal policy on migrants.