PRESIDENT OF GERMANY RESIGNS AMID CRITICISM VICTOR HOMOLA CONTRIBUTED REPORTING
Horst Kohler
PRESIDENT OF GERMANY RESIGNS AMID CRITICISM VICTOR HOMOLA CONTRIBUTED REPORTING
 President Horst Kohler of Germany resigned Monday amid a barrage of criticism for remarks he made during a visit to Afghanistan.
 Kohler set off the criticism when he said in an interview with Deutschland Radio  the public broadcasting station  that German soldiers serving in Afghanistan or with other peacekeeping missions were deployed to protect German economic interests.
 His resignation was another blow for Chancellor Angela Merkel  a close friend and an important conservative ally. She had lobbied hard for him to become president  first in 2004 and again in May 2009  and his departure came just a week after another leading conservative politician  Roland Koch  resigned as premier of the state of Hesse  saying he had had enough of politics.
 Merkel said Monday that she regretted Kohler's decision to resign  adding that she had tried to persuade him to change his mind when he phoned her about his decision.
 "I regret that my comments in an important and difficult question for our nation were able to lead to misunderstandings " Kohler said.
 He complained that some critics had suggested he supported military "missions that are not covered by the constitution."
 "This criticism lacks any basis " he said. "It also is lacking in the necessary respect for the presidential office."
 He added  "It was an honor to serve Germany as federal president " then walked off without taking questions.
 Kohler's resignation is certain to lead to a fresh debate over the role of German troops in Afghanistan and in other international missions.
 Denis MacShane  a British Labour legislator and German expert  said that Kohler was only speaking the truth but that German commentators did not want to recognize what he had said.
 "Kohler made the point that German military capability was relevant to German interests  including German economic interests " MacShane said.
 Opposition parties  after roundly criticizing Kohler last week  had only praise for him on Monday.
 Gesine Ltzsch  leader of the Left Party  praised Kohler  saying he was speaking out about why German troops are involved in peacekeeping missions. His resignation showed why a major reassessment of Germany's foreign policy was needed  she said.
PRESIDENT OF GERMANY RESIGNS AMID CRITICISM VICTOR HOMOLA CONTRIBUTED REPORTING
 [TGT] resigned Monday amid a barrage of criticism for remarks [TGT] made during a visit to Afghanistan.
 [TGT] set off the criticism when [TGT] said in an interview with Deutschland Radio  the public broadcasting station  that German soldiers serving in Afghanistan or with other peacekeeping missions were deployed to protect German economic interests.
 [TGT] resignation was another blow for Chancellor Angela Merkel  a close friend and an important conservative ally. She had lobbied hard for [TGT] to become president  first in 2004 and again in May 2009  and [TGT] departure came just a week after another leading conservative politician  Roland Koch  resigned as premier of the state of Hesse  saying he had had enough of politics.
 Merkel said Monday that she regretted [TGT]'s decision to resign  adding that she had tried to persuade him to change his mind when he phoned her about his decision.
 "I regret that my comments in an important and difficult question for our nation were able to lead to misunderstandings " [TGT] said.
 [TGT] complained that some critics had suggested [TGT] supported military "missions that are not covered by the constitution."
 "This criticism lacks any basis " [TGT] said. "It also is lacking in the necessary respect for the presidential office."
 [TGT] added  "It was an honor to serve Germany as federal president " then walked off without taking questions.
 [TGT]'s resignation is certain to lead to a fresh debate over the role of German troops in Afghanistan and in other international missions.
 Denis MacShane  a British Labour legislator and German expert  said that [TGT] was only speaking the truth but that German commentators did not want to recognize what he had said.
 "Kohler made the point that German military capability was relevant to German interests  including German economic interests " MacShane said.
 Opposition parties  after roundly criticizing Kohler last week  had only praise for him on Monday.
 Gesine Ltzsch  leader of the Left Party  praised Kohler  saying he was speaking out about why German troops are involved in peacekeeping missions. His resignation showed why a major reassessment of Germany's foreign policy was needed  she said.