German foreign minister calls Nasrallah a 'terrorist and murder'

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the slain leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militia a "terrorist and murderer" on Monday, as fears grow about a further escalation of violence in the Middle East.

She made the comments on the sidelines of a Green party meeting in Berlin.

Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut late last week.

Speaking to public broadcaster ARD on Saturday, Baerbock called the situation in the Middle East "extremely dangerous" after the killing of Nasrallah, and also criticized Israel's actions.

"There is a risk of destabilizing the whole of Lebanon. And that is in no way in Israel's security interest," Baerbock told public broadcaster ARD.

A lawmkaker from the opposition Christian Democrats demanded she resign for her comments on Israel.

In recognition of Germany's history in World War II, senior German politicians have generally expressed strong support for Israel's actions, although worldwide criticism is growing of the war in Gaza and increasing attacks on Lebanon.

The secretary general of the conservative Christian Social Union, Martin Huber, said however that Baerbock was "engaging in an unspeakable reversal of the roles of perpetrator and victim and casting doubt on Israel's right to self-defence."