The German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, yesterday warned his Environment Minister, Mr Jurgen Trittin, to toe the government line on abandoning nuclear energy after Mr Trittin dissolved two commissions set up to advise on the industry.
Mr Schroder moved to quash this by a communique saying Mr Trittin's "decision was not reached in agreement with the Chancellery". He said the agreement for consensus talks on ending nuclear power was an important component of the coalition, joining the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens, of which Mr Trittin is a leader.