WikiLeaks cables claim sacking German minister’s assistant

The WikiLeaks revelations have claimed their first political scalp in Europe with the sacking of the German foreign minister’s chief of staff, who acted as a spy for the Americans, keeping the US embassy in Berlin posted last year on the confidential negotiations to form Angela Merkel’s new government.

Amid a mood of increasing anger in the German political class at the disparaging observations on the chancellor’s cabinet from US officials, a liberal MP today demanded the withdrawal of the American ambassador in Berlin, Philip Murphy. Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister and leader of the liberal Free Democrats, the junior partner in the Merkel coalition, is described unflatteringly in the US cables from Berlin as inexperienced,

Greece suspends foreign airmail service after attacks

Greece has suspended international airmail for 48 hours after more than a dozen suspicious packages were sent to targets in Greece and across Europe. Police are looking for five men suspected of being part of an extreme left-wing group.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for improved security for air cargo after one of the packages was sent to her office in Berlin. Italian police are investigating after a package ignited at Bologna airport.
The pilot of a private courier plane was told to divert to Bologna after it emerged that the package was addressed to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. At least 11 similar packages have been found in Athens, mostly addressed to embassies although one was meant for French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Greek police suspended the airmail service to give them time to screen mail and parcels before they were sent abroad. Controlled explosions were carried out on two parcel bombs at Athens airport’s cargo terminal on Tuesday evening. The parcels were addressed to international police organisation Europol in the Netherlands and the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
Prime Minister George Papandreou said the authorities were determined to protect Greek citizens, adding that democracy will not allow itself to be terrorised.
Italian police have stepped up security at Rome’s main airports, Ciampino and Fiumicino. Secret services are reported to be investigating a possible link between extreme leftist Greek and Italian groups.

Merkel to honour Mohammed cartoonist at press award

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel was due to speak at an awards ceremony on Wednesday honouring a Danish cartoonist whose caricature of the Prophet Mohammed sparked sometimes violent protests by Muslims five years ago.

The 75-year-old cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, whose drawings of Mohammed that offended Muslims worldwide first appeared in Danish paper Jyllands-Posten in late 2005, will receive a prize on Wednesday evening at a conference on freedom of the press.

At a time of fierce debate in Germany over disparaging remarks about Muslim immigrants made by a central bank member, some media said the centre-right chancellor was taking a risk by honouring a man whom many Muslims believe insulted their faith.

“By having her photo taken next to Kurt Westergaard, Merkel is taking a huge risk,” wrote the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ahead of

Merkel”s Wulff finally elected president

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel”s candidate for presidency Christian Wulff has won after three rounds of balloting that undermined the Chancellor”s authority.

Christian Wulff, deputy leader of Merkel”s conservative party, won 625 votes in a special electoral assembly compared to 494 for opposition candidate Joachim Gauck, a US-based news agency reported on Wednesday.

Wulff fell short of an outright win against his challenger Joachim Gauck because members of Merkel”s own coalition broke ranks to support his opponent.

Nineteen members of Merkel”s ruling coalition abstained to vote for Wulff in a clear challenge to the Chancellor.

The role of president is largely symbolic in Germany. However, the protracted vote is seen as yet another blow to Merkel”s authority.

Merkel”s popularity is plummeting and a third round in the presidential election is viewed as an embarrassment for the chancellor.

Public opinion in Germany is turning against the war in Afghanistan, and Merkel”s decision to keep German troops in the country is probably one of the main reasons for the declining popularity of the chancellor”s cross-party coalition.

Merkel: Iranian nuclear program not transparent

DOHA: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says work on a new round of U.

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Merkel: Iranian nuclear program not transparent

British soldier killed in Afghanistan

LONDON: A British soldier has been shot dead while on patrol in Afghanistan.

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British soldier killed in Afghanistan

Merkel underlines commitment to strong euro

JIDDAH: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her country remains committed to a strong euro amid Europe’s debt crisis.

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Merkel underlines commitment to strong euro

German chancellor Merkel visits Gulf states

BERLIN: German chancellor Angela Merkel is starting a three-day trip across the Gulf states, accompanied by a high-level business delegation.

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German chancellor Merkel visits Gulf states

Britain extends flight ban until 1200 GMT Sunday

LONDON: Britain has extended a ban on most flights in its airspace until at least 1200 GMT Sunday due to the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland, air authorities announced.

“The volcanic ash cloud from Iceland is moving around and changing shape,” the National Air Traffic Services said in a statement Saturday.

“Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 13:00 (UK time) tomorrow.”

“We will continue to monitor Met Office information and review our arrangements in line with that,” it said.

Sarkozy cancels trip to Kaczynski funeral: office

PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy will not attend the funeral of Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski due to the disruption caused by the huge cloud of volcanic ash over Europe, his office said Saturday.

“Because of the exceptional weather conditions which are disrupting air traffic over most of Europe the president will not be able to travel to Krakow to attend the funeral of president Kaczynski and his wife, as planned,” the Elysee palace said in a statement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Barack Obama, Britain”s Prince Charles, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other leaders have also cancelled their planned trip.

Kaczynski, his wife Maria and 94 other people died in a plane crash in Russia on April 10.

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