Germany Sends Condolences to Indonesia

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder sent his country's condolences to Indonesia on Tuesday after an earthquake off its northwest coast killed at least 400 people. "Your country suffered immeasurably from the tsunami in December and for Indonesia to suffer a large number of dead and injured again so soon afterwards is particularly tragic," Schröder said in a letter of condolence to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said in a telegram to his Indonesian counterpart Hasan Wirayuda that "we feel for the Indonesian people in their shock and mourning. Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the families and friends of the victims and the injured, and also with the many people who have lost their possessions through this catastrophe," he said. Fischer extended an offer of German assistance should it be needed. The epicenter of the quake, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, was just 200 miles (320 kilometers) from that of the December 26 quake which sent giant waves crashing into 12 nations, killing over 273,000 people. Indonesian officials said at least 430 people had been confirmed dead on the islands of Nias and Simeulue off Sumatra in the latest quake.