German President quits over troop row

BERLIN - Germany's conservative President Horst Koehler tendered his immediate resignation yesterday after he was criticised for remarks that seemed to suggest his country's troops were in Afghanistan to protect German economic interests.

The President, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing Christian Democrats, said he was stepping down from the largely ceremonial office in what seemed to be a fit of pique.

Television showed Koehler, 67, with tears in his eyes as he announced his decision to resign after holding office for six years.

He flatly denied that he had linked his country's military presence in Afghanistan with safeguarding Germany's economic interests.

"These allegations are completely without justification. I have not been shown the respect due to me as the holder of the highest office of state."

Koehler's abrupt departure was almost certain to further inflame the controversy already raging in Germany over the country's highly unpopular Afghanistan mission, opposed by at least 60 per cent of the population.

The German Chancellor described the resignation as a serious blow to her Government. Merkel frequently consulted Koehler, a former head of the International Monetary Fund, over the euro crisis.

"I tried to get him to change his mind, but this was not possible. Many people will be sad to see him go," she said.

The row erupted 10 days ago after he made a brief visit to the German Army's 4500-strong contingent of troops in Afghanistan.

On his return Koehler gave an interview in which he reiterated his Government's line that Germany was in Afghanistan to provide the country with security and that it was right and proper for the issue to be discussed.

However, he went on to add: "A country of our size, with its dependence on foreign trade, has to be aware that in cases of emergency military deployment it is also necessary to protect our interests ... for example free trade routes."

His remarks were immediately interpreted as a radical departure from the Government's line on Afghanistan which insists troops are there to protect German citizens at home from attacks by Islamic terrorist groups.

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