Greens Abandon Talks on Immigration Law

Germany's junior coalition partner, the Greens, said they've given up on negotiations with the opposition to come to agreement on a new immigration law. "It's game over," said Greens party leader Reinhard Bütikofer on Monday following a meeting of the party council in Berlin. "It makes no sense to continue the discussions." Before the Greens' meeting, Interior Minister Otto Schily appealed to the party to save the six-month long negotiations. "Everyone has to recognize their responsibility -- we absolutely need this law," Schily said. Last week, the Greens threatened to walk out on negotiations, saying they refused to make any more compromises to the opposition conservatives on key issues such as asylum and internal security measures. Germany's first attempt to pass a law regulating immigration was rejected last year by the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.