BERLIN, June 8: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder found himself mired in resignation rumours on Wednesday, forcing the German leader and his senior aides to dismiss reports that expose his fragility ahead of early elections. A top official in Schroeder’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) suggested in the German press under cover of anonymity that the chancellor was under pressure from within the party to make way for Franz Muentefering, the party’s chairman.

Mr Muentefering would then cancel a no-confidence vote planned for July 1 and delay the general election until 2006, the official said.

The government’s official spokesman Bela Anda laughed off the rumours on Wednesday, saying they could not be taken seriously.

Mr Schroeder himself said late on Tuesday: “I have no intention of commenting on the sort of rubbish which is put out by this or that person.”

Another SPD member, Michael Mueller, said those spreading the rumours were “dirty pigs” — strong words in the normally restrained world of German politics.—AFP