German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder briefs the media during an
impromptu news conference in the headquarters of the Social Democratic
party SPD in Berlin on July 18, 2002. Schroeder said on Thursday he had
dismissed defence minister Rudolf Scharping who had come under fire
over suspect income two month before the general elections. Lagging the
opposition conservatives in polls ahead of the September 22 election,
Schroeder had convened a meeting of the Social Democratic party's
leadership to discuss the affair, which had threatened to dent his
already flagging hopes of winning a second term. REUTERS/Alexandra
Winkler

WR/AH