Germany trends lightly on Libya

Germany has taken what it called an 'extremely rare step' of expelling five Libyan diplomats, whom the foreign ministry says were exerting pressure on Libyans living in Germany.

Yet it has shown none of the enthusiasm for the military intervention in Libya that has come from France, Britain and the US all firm German allies.

As Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer reports from Berlin, the country is keeping a low profile in the wider Libyan crisis.

And Angela Merkel's pacifist stance on Libya is proving popular with German voters.