Germany's "Lives of Others" wins foreign Oscar

LOS ANGELES, Feb 26 (Reuters) ''The Lives of Others,'' a searing look at the totalitarian powers wielded by East German secret police, the Stasi, won the Oscar for foreign language film, beating several strong rivals.

The movie, from first-time filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, revolves around a secret agent who bugs a couple's home, and inserts himself into their lives, with tragic consequences.

It beat Mexico's ''Pan's Labyrinth,'' Canada's ''Water,'' Algeria's ''Days of Glory'' and Denmark's ''After the Wedding.'' REUTERS SHB RN0902