Berlin, Oct 29: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stressed his opposition to a war against Iraq as he set out his new government programme today, but insisted that Germany's currently frayed relations with Washington are of crucial importance.
Schroeder's vehement opposition to us-led military action against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was credited with helping his Centre-Left government narrowly win re-election last month, but also led to a cooling in relations between Berlin and the US administration.
``In view of the alarming situation in the Middle East and the necessity of waging and winning the battle against international terrorism on the widest possible basis, the government fully backs exhausting the possibilities for international (weapons) inspections,'' Schroeder said in his first policy speech to parliament since winning re-election on Sept. 22.
``A consistent policy of disarmament under international control should remain the priority toward Iraq and other trouble spots,'' he insisted. ``We will not participate in any military strike against Iraq.''

Schroeder's speech came a day before foreign minister Joschka Fischer travels to Washington for a meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, a first face-to-face effort to ease tensions.
The White House was particularly angered when Schroeder's justice minister reportedly compared US President George W Bush with Adolf Hitler during the election campaign. She was not considered for the new cabinet. Bureau Report