Following a referendum in 2008 it now largely controls its own affairs, though Denmark, the old colonial power, remains in charge of foreign affairs, defence and immigration.

ECONOMIST: One man and his dogs | The

Chinese papers back Beijing's actions as defence of non-interference in internal affairs.

BBC: Chinese, Iranian press alone back UN Syria veto

Top Social Democrats who look bound to nose into his patch include Rudolf Scharping, the incoming defence minister, who fancied himself in the foreign-affairs job, and the acquisitive Oskar Lafontaine at finance, who is carving out a role for himself as the new government's Mr Europe.

ECONOMIST: Joschka Fischer, Germany’s reluctant statesman | The