Rival to Germany's Merkel hits back in speech fees row

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's designated challenger in next year's federal election angrily rejected accusations on Tuesday that he sold out to bankers with lucrative speaking engagements and neglected his duties as a member of parliament by moonlighting.

Former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, who will lead the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) into the 2013 election, told a national TV audience he had earned 1.25 million euros for 89 speeches since 2009 but said he donated some money to charity.