Foxconn says cannot meet demand for iPhone 5

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's Foxconn has admitted that it cannot meet strong demand for Apple's new iPhone 5 due to difficulties in building the gadget, amid concerns over the US giant's future earnings.

"We can't really fulfill Apple's requests. Our shipments are insufficient... given the huge market demand," Foxconn chairman Terry Gou told reporters late on Wednesday.

He added that the design of iPhone 5, of which five million were sold over its launch weekend in September, has made the production difficult but did not elaborate.

He declined to say whether Foxconn plans to outsource some of the iPhone orders to other makers