Germany's Merkel blasts Afghan law (on visit to Afghanistan)

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Afghanistan's president to review carefully a new law that critics say legalizes marital rape, a spokesman said Monday.

Merkel was on a surprise visit to northern Afghanistan to meet German troops and view rebuilding efforts. Spokesman Thomas Steg said she did not plan talks with officials in Kabul, but had spoken by telephone with President Hamid Karzai on Sunday.

During that conversation, Merkel "appealed urgently" to Karzai to review "very carefully" the much-criticized new law, intended to regulate family life inside Afghanistan's minority Shiite community, Steg said.

Merkel "stressed ... that this law does not correspond with the government's ideas and with her personal ideas regarding the equality of men and women," Steg said.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gRbmVOhddpRWJo-KpO06aa6sHQRwD97D11IO2

[Coventina]

1. Militants attack German base after Merkel visit

A German military base in Afghanistan came under rocket fire shortly after an unannounced visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- her first since 2007.

Officials in Berlin confirmed that two rockets were fired at the base just 20 minutes after the chancellor and Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung left by helicopter.

The missiles landed outside the perimeter fence and caused neither casualties nor damage.

Merkel's two-day itinerary is being kept secret for security reasons, but officials say it will allow her to discuss reconstruction projects and visit German soldiers deployed as part of the 60,000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.


http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4155275,00.html

[madmom]

6. Wonder if this happens everytime they see a helicopter in the area? Just curious.

[SurfingScientist]

2. Thanks Angie.

Once more, proud of her. She shows guts and good leadership.
Did I mention she is a scientist (former University Professor in Physics)?

Hope there will be enough international pressure to bury that rape law from the Dark Ages.

[Ian David]

3. This would have made it illegal for her to refuse Bush's back-rub, too. n/t

[ensho]

4. thank you Angela, more power to you

nt

[Vidar]

5. Bravo Chancellor Merkel!