5:42pm UK, Friday December 12, 2003

Germans are too grumpy, according to their president.

Johannes Rau says his people are far too po-faced.

180 German president johannes rau

Pot, kettle? President Rau should follow his own advice

He told the Foreign Press Association that many Germans looked liked they were suffering indigestion.

"Germans sometimes leave a general impression of being broody," Mr Ra said.

"Germans walk around looking as if they have too much gastric acid."

"I wish they'd relax more."

Mr Rau has often criticised Germans during his five-year term for moaning and whinging too much.

He said his countrymen were too pessimistic and exaggerated Germany's woes too much when they had the world's third largest economy.

"I often complain there is too much self-pity in Germany," he said.

"Germans tend to pay not enough attention to what is happening in other continents and other countries. I wish we'd would be more confident in a modest way."