BERLIN, May 23 (Xinhuanet) -- German opposition candidate Horst Koehler was elected as the next president of the country on Sunday,the lower house of parliament Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse announced.

    Koehler won an absolute majority in the first round of votingby the 1,204-member assembly, with 604 votes for a five-year term. He was nominated by the opposition Christian Democrats and their Free Democrats allies. Enditem