Official’s Comment Stirs German Furor
BERLIN — A German government minister came under criticism Friday for labeling the Iraq war “a true crime.â€
Germany’s conservative opposition urged Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to reprimand Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, minister for economic cooperation and development.
Wieczorek-Zeul said in a speech late Wednesday that the Iraq war had caused terrible human suffering.
“That is a true crime,†said the left-wing member of Schroeder’s Social Democrats, known as the SPD.
Leaders of the opposition Christian Democrats, or CDU, who supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, called on Wieczorek-Zeul to retract the remarks and for Schroeder to silence her.
“The chancellor needs to put a muzzle on Wieczorek-Zeul and her anti-American attacks,†said Christian Ruck, a CDU deputy.
Government officials and SPD deputies defended Wieczorek-Zeul’s remarks.
Schroeder had criticized U.S. steps against Iraq right until the war started. In his 2002 reelection campaign, he said an attack on Iraq would “set ablaze†the Middle East.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
