CAPE TOWN, Nov 5 (Reuters) - South Africa's government has terminated a transaction to buy eight Airbus A400M military transport aircraft due to increasing costs and delivery delays, cabinet spokesman Themba Maseko said on Thursday.

'Cabinet decided to terminate the contract to purchase eight A400M strategic lift aircraft,' Maseko told reporters on Thursday. The cancellation of the A400M deal is the first by a country which previously ordered the aircraft from Airbus .

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) Keywords: AIRBUS A400M/SAFRICA

(marius.bosch@thomsonreuters.com; +27 11 775 3040; Reuters Messaging: marius.bosch.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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