German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Sunday he felt "obligated" to call early national elections following the heavy defeat of his Social Democrats in a crucial regional vote, dpa reported. "It is my obligation and responsibility to call new elections... as early as possible," said Schroeder in a brief statement after which he declined to take questions, dpa reported. The sombre-looking Chancellor said he wanted the vote to take place this autumn and would be consulting with German President Horst Koehler on a possible date. Schroeder said voters on Sunday had expressed serious questions about his policies in what he termed a "bitter election result" in North Rhine-Westphalia state where the SPD after ruling for 39 years was defeated by the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU).
