GERMANY: Germany could participate in a military strike on Iraq if the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) win next month's general election.
Mr Wolfgang Schäuble, the foreign affairs spokesman of conservative challenger Mr Edmund Stoiber, said Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was "irresponsible" for turning Iraq into an election issue.
"We're sticking to our policy, which until three weeks ago was the joint policy of the government and the main opposition parties, of acting in the context of European solidarity and Atlantic partnership to ensure that United Nations resolutions are implemented," said Mr Schäuble.
But Mr Schröder stepped up his opposition to intervention yesterday, calling the latest remarks by Mr Dick Cheney "a mistake".
"It is hard to persuade someone who is to be removed with the aid of a military strike to allow weapons inspectors into the country," said Mr Schröder.
Last Sunday night in a live television debate he supported getting weapons inspectors back into Iraq, as sought by the UN, but not the ousting of Saddam Hussein.
Mr Schäuble criticised Mr Schröder yesterday, saying that making such a decision on what is still a theoretical strike reduced its chances of success. "All pressure must be brought to bear on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to ensure he allows weapons inspections without preconditions, said Mr Schäuble.