German Chancellor Angela Merkel with young Carol singers on January 7, 2014. Photo/AFP
BERLIN, Tuesday
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared publicly on crutches Tuesday for the
first time since it emerged she had fractured her pelvis in a ski
accident, to join children for carol singing.
Smiling
broadly and looking relaxed, the 59-year-old chancellor, dressed in a
smart teal jacket and dark trousers, negotiated a few steps to stand,
leaning on her two crutches, among the 100 or so youngsters from across
Germany.
The annual event at the chancellery, in which
youngsters don "Three Wise Men" costumes and sing carols as part of an
Epiphany fundraising effort for needy children, is one of only a couple
of appointments that Merkel will keep this week.
After a
fall over the Christmas holidays while cross-country skiing in
Switzerland, Merkel suffered a fractured pelvis and has been advised by
doctors to remain laying down as much as possible for three weeks, her
spokesman revealed Monday.
She will work mainly from home while she recovers, he said.
MEETINGS CALLED OFF
Merkel
is however also due to lead the first cabinet meeting of 2014 of her
hard-won, new "grand coalition" Wednesday, but a scheduled foreign trip
and meetings with the Polish and Luxembourg prime ministers later this
week have been called off
.
.
Merkel, who was re-elected
chancellor for a third term by deputies in December following
September's elections, sang along while a girl wearing a costume crown
and cloak held the words and music for her to follow.
The
German leader referred to the fact that she cannot stand too well due
to her injury and is supposed to lie down more as she spoke to the
youngsters, whose fundraising will go towards helping refugee children
around the world.
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