Schroeder to cut short US trip but still meet Bush in June

BERLIN - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will cut short a visit to the United States in June but will go ahead with a meeting with US President George W. Bush, Schroeder's spokesman said on Wednesday.
He will meet Bush on June 27 at the White House.
Schroeder had planned to spend four days in the United States, but has cancelled plans to visit California.
"Domestic political reasons" had forced him to change his plans, his spokesman Bela Anda said.
Schroeder has called a vote of confidence in his government on July 1, the first step towards holding an early general election, probably in mid-September.
He made the surprise call for early elections after his Social Democrats were heavily defeated in a state election in North Rhine-Westphalia at the weekend.

05/25/2005 14:14 GMT