German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder flinched before breaking into laughter at news conference in Cairo yesterday when an Egyptian translator inadvertently called him ?Chancellor Kohl? during a question.

Schroeder is a Social Democrat who defeated conservative Helmut Kohl, after 16 years in power, in 1998. They two have long been rivals and share no physical similarities ? Schroeder is a head shorter than Kohl and about half his size.

?The next question goes to Kohl,? the Egyptian translator said in polished German ? causing the short, dark-haired Schroeder, 59, to visibly shake before laughing loudly at being confused with Kohl, 73, a balding giant of a man. The German leader quickly interrupted the translator with a quip ? ?You don?t look like you?re that old!? ? before listening to the rest of the question translated from an Egyptian journalist.