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Demjanjuk 'fit to stay in jail' Demjanjuk 'fit to stay in jail'
(about 2 hours later)
Suspected Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk is fit enough to be held in jail until such time as he goes on trial, German prison doctors say.Suspected Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk is fit enough to be held in jail until such time as he goes on trial, German prison doctors say.
Mr Demjanjuk, 89, was flown to Germany on Tuesday from the United States, where he waged a long battle against deportation, partly on health grounds.Mr Demjanjuk, 89, was flown to Germany on Tuesday from the United States, where he waged a long battle against deportation, partly on health grounds.
But a spokesman for Stadelheim jail in Munich said "doctors have determined he is fit to remain in custody".But a spokesman for Stadelheim jail in Munich said "doctors have determined he is fit to remain in custody".
He faces charges of being an accessory to the deaths of 29,000 Jews.He faces charges of being an accessory to the deaths of 29,000 Jews.
The arrest warrant was read to him hours after his arrival in Germany.The arrest warrant was read to him hours after his arrival in Germany.
US government surveillance video showing John Demjanjuk walking without help It is the responsibility of a state governed by the rule of law to send a signal that the worst crimes will never be forgotten Germany's Abndzeitung newspaper class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/8047622.stm">German reaction to Demjanjuk class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7998947.stm">Profile: John Demjanjuk class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/8046133.stm">Demjanjuk's slow road to Germany
His lawyer, Guenter Maull, said the suspect had sat in a chair while the 21-page warrant was read and translated into his native Ukrainian language.His lawyer, Guenter Maull, said the suspect had sat in a chair while the 21-page warrant was read and translated into his native Ukrainian language.
Mr Demjanjuk "showed no emotion, with few facial movements" but had understood the charges, he said.Mr Demjanjuk "showed no emotion, with few facial movements" but had understood the charges, he said.
He denies accusations that he worked as a guard in the Sobibor Nazi death camp in Poland during World War II.He denies accusations that he worked as a guard in the Sobibor Nazi death camp in Poland during World War II.
Mr Demjanjuk, who settled in the US in 1952, says he was captured by the Germans in his native Ukraine during the war and kept as a prisoner of war.Mr Demjanjuk, who settled in the US in 1952, says he was captured by the Germans in his native Ukraine during the war and kept as a prisoner of war.
'In good shape''In good shape'
He is being kept under medical observation to allow experts to determine whether he is fit to go to trial - an assessment which may take weeks.He is being kept under medical observation to allow experts to determine whether he is fit to go to trial - an assessment which may take weeks.
DEMJANJUK CASE TIMELINE 1952: Gains entry into the US, claiming he spent most of the war as a German prisoner1977: First charged with war crimes, accused of being "Ivan the Terrible"1986: Extradited to Israel; sentenced to death in 19881993: Israeli Supreme Court overturns conviction, ruling that he is not Ivan the Terrible2002: Loses US citizenship after a judge said there was proof he worked at Nazi camps2005: A judge rules in favour of deportation to his native Ukraine2009: Germany issues an arrest warrant for him; deported by US class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7998947.stm">Profile: John Demjanjuk class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/8046133.stm">Demjanjuk's slow road to Germany US government surveillance video showing John Demjanjuk walking without help
But deputy prison director Jochen Menzel said Mr Demjanjuk was in strikingly good condition.But deputy prison director Jochen Menzel said Mr Demjanjuk was in strikingly good condition.
"He is not typical for his age... he is in better shape than usual for an 89-year-old," he told German news channel N24."He is not typical for his age... he is in better shape than usual for an 89-year-old," he told German news channel N24.
His lawyers had argued in US courts that he was too frail to be deported, but the US government, which secretly shot footage showing him walking without assistance, argued he was fit to travel.His lawyers had argued in US courts that he was too frail to be deported, but the US government, which secretly shot footage showing him walking without assistance, argued he was fit to travel.
An appeals court ruled against him, saying it was satisfied that he would be provided with adequate care.An appeals court ruled against him, saying it was satisfied that he would be provided with adequate care.
Mr Demjanjuk arrived in the US in 1952 as a refugee, settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked in the car industry.Mr Demjanjuk arrived in the US in 1952 as a refugee, settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked in the car industry.
In 1988 he was sentenced to death in Israel for crimes against humanity, after Holocaust survivors identified him as a notorious guard at the Treblinka death camp. But the Israeli Supreme Court overturned that conviction and he returned to the US.In 1988 he was sentenced to death in Israel for crimes against humanity, after Holocaust survivors identified him as a notorious guard at the Treblinka death camp. But the Israeli Supreme Court overturned that conviction and he returned to the US.
Prosecutors now say they have documents which prove his Nazi background, including an SS identity card which shows he was posted to the death camp in Sobibor in 1943, and many witness testimonies.Prosecutors now say they have documents which prove his Nazi background, including an SS identity card which shows he was posted to the death camp in Sobibor in 1943, and many witness testimonies.
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World ServiceFROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
Mr Demjanjuk's deportation was welcomed by observers.Mr Demjanjuk's deportation was welcomed by observers.
Wolfgang Benz, head of the Centre for Anti-Semitism Research at Berlin university, welcomed Mr Demjanjuk's deportation.Wolfgang Benz, head of the Centre for Anti-Semitism Research at Berlin university, welcomed Mr Demjanjuk's deportation.
"This is about guilt, about avenging a crime, about responsibility for a criminal act," he told told Deutschlandfunk public radio."This is about guilt, about avenging a crime, about responsibility for a criminal act," he told told Deutschlandfunk public radio.
"Whether this old man who possibly is in a pathetic state spends his last years in a prison hospital or does not serve his sentence due to ill health, that's of secondary importance.""Whether this old man who possibly is in a pathetic state spends his last years in a prison hospital or does not serve his sentence due to ill health, that's of secondary importance."