Parliamentary floor leader of the German Christian Democratic Union
(CDU) Friedrich Merz addresses the German parliament Bundestag November
8, 2001 as German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (c-L), Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder (c-R), Families Minister Christine Bergmann (back L)
and Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping (back R) listen. German
Chancellor Schroeder urged the parliament to approve the mobilisation
of up to 3,900 troops for the Afghan campaign as opposition from within
his own coalition threatened to undermine his government.
REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay REUTERS

JOH