British oil giant BP which has become short of ready cash has decided to sell its German fuel stations.

BP agents have been looking for potential buyers for Germany's leading petrol station network, Aral.

Aral, with 2,500 outlets, is believed to be worth around US$2.6 billion.

A number of companies, including France's Total, European rival Avia and Russia's Rosneft, have expressed interest in the service station deal, with Rosneft already suggesting to BP it might also buy refineries owned by the company in northern Germany.

BP faces an enormous bill from its horrific Gulf of Mexico oil spill.