8 January 2008

Dusseldorf (dpa) - German police are hunting a housewife on murder charges after she allegedly told her children she had flushed their father down the toilet.

The man, a taxi-driver, vanished three weeks ago. Police in the western city of Dusseldorf believe the wife, 52, chopped him up and disposed of 100 kilograms of body parts in garbage bins and down the toilet.

The Muslim couple hated one another.

After her adult children asked where he was, she replied: "You'll never find him. I've put him down the loo."

Neighbours said the toilet had been flushed constantly on the night he disappeared.

The woman left Germany and was last seen in her native Macedonia, according to the police.

German police will issue an international warrant for her arrest but are aware that Macedonia does not extradite its own citizens.

Police scientists said the couple's apartment had been energetically cleaned and repainted, but using disclosing solutions they found bloodstains in the living room, hall and bathroom. Experts are to search the sewer next.

Police voiced amazement that the husband, 58, had never reported her previous attempts to poison him or the time she seriously injured him with a hammer.