Germany's Green Party called for a suspension of the U.S.-led air strikes against Afghanistan on Monday.
Eight days after the beginning of the bombardments, there must be a stop of bombing to begin with humanitarian aids for suffering Afghan civilians, said the party's chief, Claudia Roth.
"I think a suspension is meaningful," said the party chief who was just back from a two-day visit to Pakistan.
She noted that some 7 million people were being threatened by famine in Afghanistan. The president suggested that the borders be opened for refugees and convoys carrying food.
A party conference of the Greens on Monday expressed support to the appeal made by Roth.
But the statements of the Green Party went against the stance of its ruling partner the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the government that has repeatedly expressed "unlimited solidarity" with the U.S. in its military actions against Afghanistan.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, also president of the biggest ruling party SPD, rejected the suggestion of the Greens for a pause of strikes.
"This is not the policy of the government and it will not become the policy of the government," said Schroeder on Monday.
SPD Secretary-General Franz Muntefering said it is not business of the Germans to "give advices to the Americans." They are things of the Americans to decide which tactics to adopt, he added.
The statement of the Green Party evoked suspicions that it has remarkable differences with its ruling partner SPD regarding the military actions against Taliban regime.
Secretary-General of the opposition Christian Democratic Union Laurenz Meyer criticized Green Party chief Roth to break the " international solidarity" in backing the U.S. and "attack the government from behind."
President of the Free Democratic Party Guido Westerwelle warned that the statements of the Greens could "weaken Germany's position in the alliance."
But SPD officials rejected that the ruling coalition of Green Party and SPD has any problems.
"I don't see any problems with the cooperation of the coalition, " stressed Muentefering.
The cooperation of the two ruling parties would not be influenced by the statements of the Green Party chief, added Muentefering.
（ Xinhua News Agency 10/16/2001）
