Germany's armed forces chief Wolfgang Schneiderhan has resigned over the controversy surrounding a NATO air strike in the Afghan province of Kunduz. Dozens of civilians were killed in the attack in September.

German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg announced the general’s resignation, which comes in response to German media reports that information on the attack was withheld.

German forces in Kunduz called in the air strike on two fuel tankers that had been seized by Taliban insurgents. However, apart from Taliban militants, there were also civilians in the vicinity. According to an Afghan investigation, 30 of them were killed.

The wrecked fuel tanker after the NATO air strike in Kunduz - EPA