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Merkel spoke after coming under fire over a NATO air strike, ordered by a German commander in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province Friday that killed at least 54 people, according to local officials, who say the dead were mostly Taliban militant fighters who had hijacked two fuel tankers.
Anguished debate in Germany about civilian casualties comes amid already meagre public support for the army's deployment in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
Germany, along with Britain and France, unveiled on Sunday their plans to hold an international conference later this year on the fate of Afghanistan, underlying growing concerns that the security situation is deteriorating.
At a joint press briefing with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Merkel urged Afghans to take more responsibility for their own country.
Merkel, who said full light must be shed on Friday's incident in Kunduz, was to address parliament over the air raid on Tuesday.
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Anguished debate in Germany about civilian casualties comes amid already meagre public support for the army's deployment in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
Germany, along with Britain and France, unveiled on Sunday their plans to hold an international conference later this year on the fate of Afghanistan, underlying growing concerns that the security situation is deteriorating.
At a joint press briefing with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Merkel urged Afghans to take more responsibility for their own country.
Merkel, who said full light must be shed on Friday's incident in Kunduz, was to address parliament over the air raid on Tuesday.
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