Obama, Merkel to meet Friday

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House.

During a meeting Friday in the Oval Office and a working lunch, the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of subjects, including the war in Afghanistan and economic policy in the midst of the worldwide recession.

Obama and Merkel will also hold a joint news conference in the Rose Garden.

Later, the president and first lady host an evening picnic on the South Lawn for White House staff.

No serious contention likely in Obama-Merkel talks

President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel probably will hold to their disparate views on the Afghanistan war and economic policy in the midst of worldwide financial problems during a meeting Friday.

Despite touchy subjects, the two seemed to hit it off well during Obama's ceremonial visits this month to the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald and to Dresden, the German city firebombed by the Allies during World War II.

Merkel's 25-hour visit to Washington will be busy. It starts with energy and climate discussions with members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Then comes the White House talks with Obama, a joint news conference and lunch with Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.