German president resigns over military row

German President Horst Koehler resigned today in a surprise move after being criticised for reportedly linking military deployments abroad with the country’s economic interests – creating a new headache for Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The resignation, effective immediately, came only a year into Mr Koehler’s second term as the largely ceremonial head of state. Ms Merkel had installed the former International Monetary Fund boss as president in 2004.