Schroeder backs flight row minister

Schroeder: Scharping's resignation is "not an issue"

BERLIN, Germany -- Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has continued to back his defence minister amid calls for his dismissal over alleged misuse of military aircraft.

Opposition politicians called for Rudolf Scharping's resignation after it emerged he used army planes to shuttle between completing official business in Berlin and the Spanish island of Majorca where he was on holiday with his girlfriend.

"The rules on using official planes were followed," Schroeder told Reuters news agency. "That which is of a private nature is between two grown-ups and should not be part of a political debate. Shots are being fired here that are not appropriate."

Scharping is alleged to have made a late-night return to Majorca from Berlin where he voted to send 500 German soldiers on a NATO mission to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

After spending eight hours with his girlfriend, Countess Kristina Pilati von Thassul zu Daxberg Borgreve, reports said he took another army plane the following morning into Skopje for a brief visit to the troops, after which a different military jet took him back to Majorca to continue his holiday.

Criticism has been levelled at Scharping from both his political opponents and within his own party.

Peter Struck, parliamentary leader of Schroeder's Social Democrats, told the Associated Press that although Scharping had legally done nothing wrong, he would question his political judgement.

"Everybody has their own way," Struck told German television. "But if I would behave like that is another question."

'Clueless minister'

Scharping returned from his holiday on Saturday afternoon aboard an inexpensive charter flight and staunchly defended his use of military aircraft, saying the flights were made for business and not personal reasons.

"I interrupted my holiday three times for professional reasons and followed rules on attending cabinet meetings exactly to the letter," Scharping told German newspapers.

"When I'm on vacation, I don't lie on the beach. In fact, I'm in touch with my ministry several times a day and work three to five hours a day," the minister insisted during a televised interview on Sunday night.

Scharping thanked the chancellor and his aides for their support, which he described as "soothing," said AP.

But criticism continues to rage in Germany.

Paul Breuer, Christian Democrat parliamentary defence spokesman, told local radio: "Scharping appears to be the most clueless defence minister to have ever held the job."

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper was equally scathing. "The minister is apparently besotted by such burning desire that he flew to Majorca for a night, then flew to Skopje to visit soldiers before returning again," the paper wrote.

"He could, however, have endured an entire night without his girlfriend."

Scharping divorced his wife of 29 years last summer and was seen out with the countess within weeks.

Last month the minister caused a stir when he allowed a magazine to publish pictures of himself and his girlfriend enjoying themselves in a swimming pool in Majorca.