Berlin  - German investor confidence posted its second unexpected rise in two months Tuesday, with analysts attributing this to lower energy prices and a stronger dollar providing a boost to exports from the eurozone.

Drawn up by the Mannheim-based Centre for European Economic Research, the ZEW September index rose to minus 41.1 from minus 55.5 points in August.

Berlin  - German investor confidence posted its second unexpected rise in two months Tuesday, analysts attributing this to lower energy prices and a stronger dollar providing a boost to exports from the eurozone.

Drawn up by the Mannheim-based Centre for European Economic Research, the ZEW September index rose to minus 41.1 from minus 55.5 points in August.

The ZEW appended a special note on the fall-out from the collapse of US bank Lehman Brothers, saying that a separate analysis of 31 answers that came in after the bankruptcy showed that the economic expectations for Germany had not deteriorated.

Berlin  - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier found Iran uncooperative during nuclear talks Monday in Berlin and called on Tehran to stop playing for time with the West and act to restore lost trust, German delegation sources said

Aides described Steinmeier as disappointed after the talks about Iran's nuclear programme.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had requested the meeting, according to the German account.

Berlin  - Germa

Berlin - Passengers worried by two failed attempts at take-off drafted a petition and forced Germany's second-biggest airline to use a different jet for the flight, Air Berlin confirmed Monday.

About 170 passengers were booked on the Sunday morning trip from Nuremberg in southern Germany to Faro, Portugal.

An Air Berlin spokeswoman said the pilot's electronic display in the near-new Boeing 737-800 jet had falsely reported a problem with a wing flap. There had been no danger to occupants.

The pilot took the loaded plane out to the runway twice but abandoned take-off because of the indicator.

Berlin- German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is to appeal to Tehran to make a constructive response to the current offer from world powers over Iran's controversial nuclear programme in talks Monday with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki.

Steinmeier's spokesman said ahead of the meeting in Berlin that Mottaki had asked for the talks.

"Our offer is on the table. We hope Iran will give a constructive

answer," Jens Ploetner said.