German EconMin: banks must soon fend for themselves

BERLIN Nov 24 (Reuters) - Banks must soon be left to be completely responsible for themselves again, German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said on Tuesday.

The government has provided a bank rescue fund, Soffin, to aid the sector and earlier this year took a 25 percent plus one share holding in Commerzbank (CBKG.DE). State-backed lender WestLB said on Tuesday it and its owners were in talks with Soffin about support for the bank's restructuring. (Reporting by Gernot Heller, writing by Paul Carrel) ((paul.carrel@reuters.com; +49 30 2888 5214; Reuters Messaging: rm://paul.carrel.reuters.com@reuters.net))