Yaounde (Fides Service) – On Christmas Eve German Claretian missionary, Father Anton Probst, was found dead at the Claretian Novitiate at Akono about 60 kilometres south of the capital Yaounde. The body of the priest, a member of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who had taken part in the community’s midnight Mass, was found near his room gagged with hands and feet tied. It is thought that on the way to his room he encountered robbers escaping with a few items of little value. For the moment the Claretian General House which reported the news has no further details on the tragic episode. Father Probst was born on 20 March 1935 at Messhofen, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 23 October 1967. He came to Akono 11 years ago, after 24 years of mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funeral will be held in Akono on 7 January. (S.L.) (Fides Service 29/12/2003 – lines 10; words 154