Angela Merkel, general secratary of Germany's Christian Democratic Party (CDU),Wolfgang Schaeuble, leader of the CDU and Former German defence minister Volker Ruehe (L-R) listen to questions during a news conference after a meeting of the CDU committee in the northern German city of Norderstedt January 8. Germany's embattled conservatives distanced themselves further on Friday from former leader Helmut Kohl, whose refusal to help clear up a campaign finance scandal has damaged the party ahead of an important local election.

PEM