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Merkel makes historic US address Merkel makes historic US address
(about 1 hour later)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is making a rare address to both houses of the US Congress. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a rare address to both houses of Congress, has appealed to the US to join efforts on global warming.
She is only the second German chancellor to be accorded the honour, after Konrad Adenauer in 1957. Mrs Merkel - only the second German leader to address Congress since Konrad Adenauer in 1957 - received a standing ovation and sustained applause.
Her speech is expected to focus on climate change, transatlantic ties and the downfall of Communism in Europe. In her remarks, she insisted that Iran must be prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Before that, Mrs Merkel held talks at the White House with President Barack Obama, who hailed her as an "extraordinary leader". And she reiterated Germany's commitment to fostering security in Afghanistan.
Before her address on Capitol Hill, Mrs Merkel held talks at the White House with President Barack Obama, who hailed her as an "extraordinary leader".
"Germany has been an extraordinarily strong ally on a whole host of international issues," Mr Obama said, with Mrs Merkel at his side in the Oval Office."Germany has been an extraordinarily strong ally on a whole host of international issues," Mr Obama said, with Mrs Merkel at his side in the Oval Office.
Thorny issuesThorny issues
He praised the German chancellor - re-elected in September at the helm of a centre-right coalition - for her leadership on "the issue of climate change".He praised the German chancellor - re-elected in September at the helm of a centre-right coalition - for her leadership on "the issue of climate change".
President Obama also thanked Mrs Merkel for her country's "sacrifice" in keeping forces in Afghanistan.President Obama also thanked Mrs Merkel for her country's "sacrifice" in keeping forces in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan issue was expected to prove a thorny one during the bilateral talks, says BBC Berlin correspondent Steve Rosenberg.The Afghanistan issue was expected to prove a thorny one during the bilateral talks, says BBC Berlin correspondent Steve Rosenberg.
The US wants Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan, a request that would not go down well with the German public, says our correspondent.The US wants Germany to send more troops to Afghanistan, a request that would not go down well with the German public, says our correspondent.
Also expected to be on the agenda was Iran, which has close trading ties with Germany. Also expected to be on the agenda for talks was Iran, which has close trading ties with Germany.
President Obama is expected to seek backing for economic sanctions if there is no resolution to the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme.President Obama is expected to seek backing for economic sanctions if there is no resolution to the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme.
As the Copenhagen summit approaches, Mrs Merkel is also likely to push for stronger US backing for a deal on tackling climate change.As the Copenhagen summit approaches, Mrs Merkel is also likely to push for stronger US backing for a deal on tackling climate change.
"The fight against climate change is one of the most urgent tasks worldwide," she said in a video message at the weekend."The fight against climate change is one of the most urgent tasks worldwide," she said in a video message at the weekend.
The issues of how to bring peace to the Middle East, financial reform and global economic recovery are also on the agenda.The issues of how to bring peace to the Middle East, financial reform and global economic recovery are also on the agenda.