GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SHAKES HANDS WITH NEWLY APPOINTED DEFENCE
MINISTER STRUCK AS DISMISSED DEFENCE MINISTER SCHARPING LOOKS ON IN
BERLIN.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (L) exchanges a handshake with
newly appointed German Defence Minister Peter Struck as dismissed
German defence minister Rudolf Scharping (R) looks on. Schroeder
appointed Struck as the new defence minister on Friday, hoping that his
sacking on Thursday of the previous gaffe-prone incumbent Scharping
will help save his flagging bid for re-election in September.
REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay