Gay German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle has a civil partnership

Germany's foreign minister Guido Westerwelle tied the knot with his partner in a civil partnership on Friday evening.

Mr Westerwelle, 48, has been with 43-year-old Michael Mronz, a sporting events organiser, since 2003. The politician came out in 2004 during chancellor Angela Merkel's 50th birthday celebrations.

According to German newspaper Bild, the pair had a quiet ceremony with close friends and family in Bonn. It was was presided over by Bonn mayor Juergen Nimptsch.

A spokesman for Mr Westerwelle's party, the Free Democrats, confirmed the civil partnership but did not release any more details.

German gay couples cannot marry and the registered partnerships provide only some of the rights and benefits of marriage.