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German President Horst Koehler resigned surprisingly on Monday, a move that stunned top politicians as well as the public at a time of economic difficulties and sinking support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right ruling coalition.

Koehler announced his resignation after a week of criticism over a radio interview which allegedly linked military deployments abroad with the country's economic interests.

Merkel, who was informed of Koehler's decision just two hours in advance, said she regrets his resignation "to the utmost" and she had tried in vain to dissuade him from resigning.

Other German top politicians also expressed shock at Koehler's move. Guido Westerwelle, vice-chancellor and head of the Free Democrats (FDP), said he also had tried to urge Koehler to change his mind but failed.

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said the resignation of Koehler, a former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amid a financial crisis would "leave behind a great gap."

Opposition politicians meanwhile said that the latest development hinted at a crisis for Merkel's ruling coalition of her conservatives and the FDP.

Sigmar Gabriel, head of the main opposition Social Democrats, said: "I really can't see a good reason for his departure other than the fact that Horst Koehler obviously had the impression that those who brought him into office didn't give him enough support."

Koehler, a member of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), has held the largely ceremonial post of head of state since July 2004 after reelection last year.

Cem Oezdemir, co-leader of the German Green Party, linked Koehler's resignation with a recent setback of Merkel's ruling coalition at the regional elections in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia .

Merkel's ruling coalition has lost majority in the society and North Rhine-Westphalia, said Oezdemir. "Today it is clear that the resignation of the President is a symbol of the decline of the black-yellow coalition in the federal government."

Merkel, however, said in an interview with German public televisions ARD and ZDF Monday evening that she did not view Koehler as an affront to herself.

She also dismissed criticism that she had failed to give Koehler enough support, saying by refusing to comment on Koehler's remarks about military operations she has stuck to the common rule that the Chancellor does not interpret remarks of the President.

Koehler's departure came at a time when Merkel's government is already facing sinking popularity for failing to act quickly enough to control a euro zone debt crisis and constant internal disputes within the ruling coalition.

Less than a week ago, Roland Koch, a ex-rival to Merkel but an influential politician in conservative bloc, resigned as premier of the state of Hesse, a move deemed as another blow to Merkel's ruling coalition.

To make things worse, Koehler triggered widespread criticism in a May 22 radio interview which suggested that German military action abroad also served economic interests.

He was quoted as saying in the interview that a country like Germany with a heavy reliance on foreign trade "must also understand that in certain cases, in an emergency, military operations are necessary to protect our interests." He cited as examples maintaining free trade routes and preventing regional instability that could have a negative impact on Germany's trade, jobs and income.

Opposition politicians have accused Koehler of "gunboat diplomacy." Koehler, however, stressed later that he had been misunderstood.

On Monday while announcing his quit, Koehler also expressed anger at some critics which suggested he supported "German military missions that are not covered by the constitution."

"This criticism is devoid of any justification. It also is lacking in the necessary respect for the presidential office," he said.

German media comments on Monday showed widespread incomprehension over Koehler's shock resignation and criticized him for overreacting.

"The President quits and leaves the people behind at a loss," commented the German weekly Die Zeit. "In midst of a severe economic crisis, at a time when the federal government is shaky, he starts a crisis at the top."

It is the first time in Germany's postwar history that a federal president has resigned. According to the German constitution, the head of the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament that represents Germany's federal states, will take over as interim head of state. In the current situation, Jens Boehrnsen, the Social Democratic (SPD) mayor of Bremen, will take over.

A special Federal Convention, made up of all members of federal parliament and an equal number of delegates from the 16 state parliaments, must elect the next German president within 30 days.

Editor: yan

Xinhua