German Parliament apologizes

The German Parliament condemned yesterday the wave of neo-Nazi killings and police's failure to stop a murder spree in which nine immigrant shopkeepers were killed. All members of parliament from Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition to the opposition Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Left Party rose in unison to voice contrition for the failure to protect the migrants. "We're ashamed the security agencies were not able to either stop or detect the crimes planned and carried out over a period of several years," said Norbert Lammert, president of the Parliament. Lammert, a leader in Merkel's conservative party, asked for forgiveness from the victims' families for "suspicions" that had been leveled in the past at the victims, alleging involvement in illegal activities. "We're all aware of our responsibilities and we're determined to resolve this," he added, before deputies unanimously adopted a resolution from all six parties expressing commiseration and demanding structural changes at agencies. "We've got to make sure everyone who lives here in Germany, regardless of their origins, religious beliefs or orientation, can have the same constitutionally guaranteed protections," Lammert said. Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich vowed that the murders committed by racist killers would be enlightened and added that the attacks target not only individuals but also the society as a whole and the democratic system.