Opposition pressures Merkel on Afghan role

Article reports that Angela Merkel, German chancellor, came under fire from opposition parties on the 6 September 2009 over her government’s military deployment in Afghanistan and pejorative remarks by close political allies about Romanian factory workers and Chinese investors.

The criticism, following setbacks for her Christian Democratic Union at regional elections on the 30 August 2009, have put Ms Merkel on the defensive as she fights for a centre-right victory, an outcome opinion polls show may be difficult to achieve on the 27 September 2009.

EurActiv, 7.9.09: Afghan air strike reverberates in Germany ahead of poll http://www.euractiv.com/en/elections/afghan-air-strike-reverberates-germany-ahead-poll/article-185154

BBC News, 8.9.09: Merkel regrets Afghan raid deaths http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8243669.stm

Deutsche Welle, 7.9.09: Merkel warns against "premature judgments" over Afghan airstrike http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4649788,00.html

ESO: Background information: German forces ordered Nato airstrike http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-forces-ordered-nato-airstrike/

Deutsche Welle, 6.9.09: Germany defends Afghan air strike amid reports of 125 casualties http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4640342,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 4.9.09: UN Calls for Investigation into Air Strikes http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,647084,00.html

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