A Munich court has postponed the trial of Nazi guard John Demjanjuk because of health problems. Doctors say the 89-year-old war crimes suspect has an infection and cannot be moved.

Wednesday's hearing was in any case scheduled to be the final day until the trial resumes on 21 December. The court confirmed that it will start again on that date.

Ukrainian-born Demjanjuk went on trial on Monday accused of involvement in the murder of 27,900 people while he was a guard at the Sobibor extermination camp in German-occupied Poland between March and September 1943. He has admitted that he was taken prisoner by the Germans as a Red Army soldier but denies accusations that he volunteered to work for the Nazis. Prosecutors say Demjanjuk is probably the last person to be tried for Nazi crimes committed during the Second World War.

Demjanjuk's family claims he suffers from leukaemia and will not survive the trial. Many survivors of Sobibor and other camp have protested against his behaviour, saying he was playing up his illness.

Demjanjuk being wheeled into court by EPA