Former West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who led the country in 1974-82, has died aged 96, his office says.

Mr Schmidt, who was a Social Democrat, was an architect of the European Monetary System, which linked EU currencies and was a key step on the path to the euro.

He was credited with helping consolidate the country’s post-war economic boom.
He is seen as one of the most popular German leaders since WWII.