EADS hits out at critics of mega-merger

Airbus owner Eads has attacked critics of its proposed £30bn mega-merger with the UK defence giant BAE Systems as "anonymous snipers". Suggestions that the German government is not supportive of the deal, which also requires approval of the British and French administrations, were dismissed by Eads as not reflecting "constructive talks" with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's ministers.

The political edge has worried the markets since the deal was announced on Wednesday. Shares in BAE and Eads were badly hit, though the UK group yesterday recovered by almost 4 per cent.

There have been fears over job security once the merger, to be formally proposed next month, is completed. But BAE has been shedding jobs and the companies argue that a combined group would be financially stronger.