BERLIN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Germany is conducting an investigation "at full steam" into photos that appear to show German troops in Afghanistan posing with a skull, Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said here on Wednesday.

    "It's absolutely clear that we cannot tolerate such behavior by German soldiers," Jung told a press conference.

    "These pictures arouse repugnance and horror ... We are conducting the investigation at full steam," he said. "Anyone who behaves this way has no place in the Bundeswehr."

    Germany's tabloid Bild newspaper published five pictures on its front page Wednesday, showing German peacekeepers near the capital, Kabul, in early 2003.

    The pictures show that the uniformed German soldiers were seen holding up the skull and posing with it. The newspaper said it was unclear where the skull came from.

    Germany has about 2,500 soldiers serving with the 30,000-strongNATO-led force, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),in Afghanistan. Enditem