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9-20-2005

德國兩大政黨擬討論聯合組閣 (Germany's Two Major Parties To Discuss Coalition)

德國政界領導人說， 該國兩個最大的政黨計劃星期四舉行組成聯合政府的會談。在星期天的選舉中沒有任何一黨贏得明顯多數。在聯邦議院的598個席位中，以安格拉.默克爾為首的基督教民主聯盟比現任總理格哈特.施羅德的社會民主黨多了3個席位。如果這兩個黨組成聯合政府，他們將有足夠的議會票數組成新政府。不過，默克爾女士和施羅德先生都已聲稱有權擔任總理。

預計基督教民主聯盟在星期二的投票中會被再次推舉為該黨領袖。分析人士稱這是對她的信任投票。由於選舉結果不明朗以及對德國這個歐洲最大經濟推行金融改革的疑慮，德國股市星期一走低。 　

German political leaders say the country's two biggest parties plan to meet for coalition talks on Thursday after no party won a clear majority in Sunday's election. The Christian Democrats, led by Angela Merkel, edged out incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats by three seats in the 598-seat lower house. If the two parties join in a coalition, they would have enough votes to form a government. But both Ms. Merkel and Mr. Schroeder have claimed the right to be chancellor.

Merkel's Christian Democrats are expected to re-elect her as party leader Tuesday in a vote analysts call a demonstration of confidence in her. On Monday, German stock prices fell amid the election uncertainty and skepticism over enacting financial reforms in Europe's biggest economy.

英國為駐伊英軍突襲監獄辯護 (Britain Defends Prison Raid by British Troops in Iraq)

英國國防大臣約翰.裏德說，英國軍隊星期一突襲伊拉克南部城市巴士拉的一所監獄，試圖營救據信關押在那裏的兩名便衣英國軍人是正確的行動。裏德星期二在倫敦說，由於這兩名軍人沒有按程式被移交給美國領導的多國部隊，因此越來越引起關注。英國軍隊突襲了這座監獄，證實兩名英國軍人沒有關押在那裏。這兩名軍人後來從巴士拉一座民居獲救，一個伊拉克民兵組織把他們關押在那裏。

這兩名軍人據稱向伊拉克警察開槍之後被扣押。這一事件引發的暴亂造成兩名伊拉克人喪生。伊拉克總理的發言人批評英國的突襲行動，稱之為“非常不幸”的事件。

另外，美國軍方報告說，一名美國軍人星期二在巴格達附近喪生，還有4名美軍星期一在拉馬迪附近的兩起路邊炸彈襲擊中喪生。 黑蘭方面予以否認。

Britain's Defense Minister John Reidsays his troops acted correctly when they raided an Iraqi prison in the southern city of Basra Monday in an attempt to rescue two undercover soldiers believed to be held there. Reid said Tuesday in London that concern grew when the soldiers were not handed over to the U.S.-led multinational force, as procedure requires. British troops raided the jail, confirming the soldiers were not there. They were later rescued at a private house in Basra where they were held by an Iraqi militia group.

The two soldiers were detained after allegedly shooting two Iraqi policemen. The incident sparked riots that killed two other Iraqis. A spokesman for Iraq's prime minister criticized the British raid, calling it "very unfortunate."

In a separate development, the U.S. military reports an American solider was killed Tuesday near Baghdad, and four others were killed Monday in two roadside bombings near Ramadi.