German Bundeswehr soldiers commemorate their comrade killed in action the previous day at the German Bundeswehr camp in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, 18 December 2010. German chancellor Angela Merkel is on a surprise visit to the German troops deplyoed in Afghanistan. Shortly before Merkel‘s arrival, a 21-year-old German soldier was killed in an accident on 17 December in Baghlan province
A picture made available on 19 December 2010 of German Chancellor Angela Merkel entering a German military transport aircraft at the runway of Mazar-i-Sharif with which she flies out of Afghanistan, 18 December 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on 18 December paid a surprise visit to Kunduz province to meet German troops stationed there. Suicide bombers attacked an army recruiting base in northern Afghanistan early 19 December, causing at least 10 casualties, police said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg arrive for a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, in a field camp in Mazar-e-Sharif, north of Kabul, December 18, 2010.
In this photo provided by the German Government Press Office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) as well as Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (2ndR) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) meet for political talks during her visit of an ISAF soldier camp on December 18, 2010 in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. Merkel, who is on her third trip to Afghanistan, paid her respects to German soldiers currently deployed and the 45 troops who have lost their lives during the conflict. She is being accompanied by Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Bundeswehr chief of staff Volker Wieker.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (centre, R) walk among German soldiers to take part in a commemoration ceremony for their comrade killed on Friday evening, at the German army Bundeswehr field camp Marmal in Mazar-e-Sharif, north of Kabul, December 18, 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is visiting the German troops with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, also attended the ceremony.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) bids farewell to a German soldier killed on Friday evening, at a memorial for soldiers killed in action at the German army Bundeswehr field camp Marmal in Mazar-e-Sharif, north of Kabul, December 18, 2010.
In this photo provided by the German Government Press Office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg attend a memorial service for a German soldier, who died yesterday, at Camp Marmal in Basar-e-Sharif during her visit of an ISAF soldier camp on December 18, 2010 in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.
BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 18: German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who had just returned from visiting German troops in Afghanistan, and his wife Stephanie attend the 'Ein Herz Fuer Kinder' charity gala at Axel Springer Haus on December 18, 2010 in Berlin, Germany.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) talks to German Bundeswehr armed forces soldiers with the Alpha platoon of the 2nd paratroop company 373 during a visit to an army camp in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, December 18, 2010.
REUTERS/FABRIZIO BENSCH
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) talks to German Bundeswehr soldiers during a visit to a camp in Kunduz province December 18, 2010. Merkel is visiting the German Bundeswehr armed forces troops with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. A lens flare causes the effect seen in the lower right corner of the photo. REUTERS/Bundesregierung/Steffen Kugler/Handout
