Angela Merkel blames dehydration for shaking scare

The German chancellor said she was fine after drinking several glasses of water

Angela Merkel has said she is "fine" after her body was seen shaking uncontrollably during an official ceremony.

The German chancellor blamed dehydration for the episode, telling reporters: “Since then I’ve drunk at least three glasses of water, which I apparently needed, and now I’m doing very well."

The violent trembling, which raised concern about her health, took place as she welcomed the president of Ukraine to Berlin, on a hot 30 degree day.

The chancellor appeared to recover as the ceremony continued, walking down the red carpet with Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukranian president Mr Zelensky said he would have come to Ms Merkel's rescue if she had been in any danger, telling: "She was standing next to me and completely safe."

Germany's strict privacy laws mean it is not known whether Ms Merkel has any health problems.

In 2014 she postponed a television interview at the last minute after reports that she was feeling weak, though her spokesperson said was able to carry it out later after eating and drinking.

The Chancellor is due to step down as Germany's head of government when her current term runs out in 2021.

She has already resigned as leader of her conservative CDU party and give the reins to her protege, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer - widely known as "AKK".