Schroeder gets a slap in the face

It is not known why Mr Schroeder was slapped

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been slapped in the face by a man at a campaign rally of his Social Democrat Party (SPD), police said.

The man lunged at Mr Schroeder as he was signing autographs for new members of the party in the south-western city of Mannheim, according to witnesses.

Police said they had detained the man, described as 52 years old, unemployed and local, but did not name him.

A police spokesman said Mr Schroeder had not suffered any injuries.

The incident happened as Mr Schroeder was campaigning on behalf of the SPD for next month's elections to the European Parliament.

A spokesman for the chancellor, Thomas Steg, told the Associated Press news agency: "At a reception for new party members, the man approached out of the crowd and assaulted him.

"The chancellor took it in his stride."

Police said the man jumped up and struck Mr Schroeder in the face with the flat of his hand.

Security agents surrounded the man and police led him away, a police spokesman said.

There has been no indication of what the man's motive might have been.