German prisoner ends 20-hour televised rooftop show

BERLIN, Nov 9 (Reuters) A confessed rapist who captivated Germans by strolling around the edge of his prison roof live on television, agreed to come down early today about 20 hours after he broke free from guards, authorities said.

A police spokesman in the eastern city of Dresden said after negotiations lasting until the early hours today, the man agreed to descend from his perch some 13 metres high.

The onset of heavy rain probably played a role, he added.

The jobless technician, who this week admitted kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl in a five-week ordeal earlier this year, escaped on a courtyard walkabout yesterday and climbed up the side of the prison before the guards could catch him.

German television networks interrupted regular broadcasting yesterday to show live images of the 36-year-old walking back and forth near the ledge of the building. He had been on the roof since about 7:30 a m 12:00 IST, prison officials said.

The trial was due to continue today, but proceedings were suspended until the next hearing date on November 21 after doctors said the prisoner was too tired to be cross-examined.

Identified only as Mario M., the prisoner spent three years in jail for abusing a minor in 1999, and admitted in court on Monday he had sexually abused 13-year-old Stephanie in his flat.

He kidnapped the girl, now 14, on her way to school on January. 11.

The man's abuse of the girl and his rooftop excursion have provoked outrage in Germany. Bild, the country's biggest selling daily, featured a front page image of the prisoner gesticulating from the roof with the caption: ''How could THIS happen?'' Reuters AB RN2140