Kosovo crisis may threaten coalition

Germany's chancellor-elect, Mr Gerhard Schroder, flew to Washington last night for talks with President Clinton, amid fears that disagreements over NATO air strikes against Serbia could threaten coalition talks between the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens.

Mr Schroder was accompanied by the Green leader, Mr Joschka Fischer, who is expected to become foreign minister if the talks lead to the formation of a government.

The Greens insist that any NATO military action must be backed by a mandate from the United Nations Security Council, a measure that Russia has threatened to veto. Mr Schroder's SPD will back military action if other NATO members agree to it.

Some Greens fear that Mr Fischer will be pressurised into agreeing to air strikes without UN approval and warn that, if this happens, the entire coalition deal could be rejected by a special party conference on October 23rd.

Mr Fischer has successfully led his party away from its pacifist roots to a defence and foreign policy that is close to the German mainstream. But he already faces a tough task in persuading Green activists to accept compromises in negotiations with the SPD and he may be unable to sell yet another change in foreign policy.

On the other hand, both Mr Schroder and Mr Fischer are eager to reassure Germany's allies that Bonn will remain a reliable member of the western alliance under their leadership.

They are hoping that Mr Clinton will show understanding for the difficulty of their position but, in view of the President's domestic troubles, they may be disappointed.

Germany's outgoing centre-right government is also divided about the right response to the crisis in Kosovo, with the Defence Minister, Mr Volker Ruehe, favouring NATO action without a UN mandate. The Foreign Minister, Mr Klaus Kinkel, fears such action could create a dangerous precedent.

Mr Schroder's visit to Washington, which will last only a few hours, follows his visit to Paris last week to meet President Chirac and the Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin.

His talks with Mr Clinton were expected to be dominated by the Kosovo crisis but would also cover proposals by the future finance minister, Mr Oskar Lafontaine, to revive the Bretton Woods system to regulate financial markets, as well as international co-operation to combat terrorism.