Merkel to meet Bush in Washington in January

BERLIN - New German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to meet US President George W Bush in Washington on January 11 for talks likely to deal with the rifts between their countries over Iraq and the US-led war on terrorism.

"The meeting with President Bush will focus on current international and bilateral issues," her office said.

Merkel has vowed to improve relations with the United States, strained since her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder clashed with Bush over the Iraq war.

The kidnapping of the first German citizen in Iraq on Friday and mounting questions in Germany about US handling of detainees in its war on terrorism could complicate that task.

Merkel's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Tuesday, winning a pledge from her to respond to allegations the CIA has been operating secret prisons in Europe.

Merkel said in a speech to parliament she expected the US government to take seriously European concerns about the prisons and the reported use of German airports to secretly transport detainees.

In February, when Schroeder was still chancellor, Merkel met Bush in Mainz, Germany.

- REUTERS