Germany remains among world's safest countries-govt

BERLIN, Nov 15 (Reuters) Germany is still one of the safest countries in the world despite an increase in some types of violent crime and a lingering threat of terrorism, a government study released today showed.

Presenting the 700-page report on crime in Germany over the past six years, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries said the public had a strong sense of security.

''Germany is one of the world's safest nations,'' said Schaeuble, himself the victim of an assassination attempt in a 1990 election campaign which left him in a wheelchair.

''We truly have nothing to fear in any international examination of data.'' The report found, however, that crimes such as robbery and assault had risen by 18 per cent since 1999, which the government traced in part to increased reporting by the public.

While the number of thefts continued to decline, fraud and other property offences had increased. Drug-related crimes doubled in the 2001-2005 period from 1991-1995.

The murder rate stayed steady at 1.2 per 100,000 residents, only slightly more than Switzerland's 1.1 and far below the 5.6 rate in the United States.

''What's especially encouraging is that the people do feel they are safe,'' Zypries said. ''More people say they feel safer.'' But Schaeuble said Germany, where the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States were planned by a Hamburg cell of al Qaeda, remained a possible target for terrorism.

''We're part of the worldwide danger zone,'' he said.

Reuters SY VV2145