- News>
- World
No German troops for Iraq without UN mandate
Berlin, July 11: Germany set strict conditions today before it would consider sending to troops to Iraq to take part in a multinational peacekeeping mission, following a US request for it to play a role.
Berlin, July 11: Germany set strict conditions today before it would consider sending to troops to Iraq to take part in a multinational peacekeeping mission, following
a US request for it to play a role.
Berlin wants a "request (for troops) from a legitimate Iraqi interim administration and a clear UN mandate" before it even discusses the issue, government spokesman Bela Anda said.
Iraq is currently run by US supervisor Paul Bremer. A 25 to 30-strong political council that will lead Iraq's interim administration is expected to be in place by mid-July. The council would then appoint ministers and draw up political guidelines.
US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Wednesday he had asked Germany and France to join a coalition of countries, which would share the spiralling cost and responsibility for the ongoing military occupation in Iraq. French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin said in an interview yesterday that France would only join the force if it had UN backing.
Rumsfeld told a Senate armed services committee hearing in Washington that the reconstruction of Iraq must include a broad array of nations.
"We've got 19 countries on the ground, we've got commitment from another 19," he said. "Our goal is to get a large number of international forces from a lot of countries, including France and Germany," he added. Bureau Report
Iraq is currently run by US supervisor Paul Bremer. A 25 to 30-strong political council that will lead Iraq's interim administration is expected to be in place by mid-July. The council would then appoint ministers and draw up political guidelines.
US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Wednesday he had asked Germany and France to join a coalition of countries, which would share the spiralling cost and responsibility for the ongoing military occupation in Iraq. French Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin said in an interview yesterday that France would only join the force if it had UN backing.
Rumsfeld told a Senate armed services committee hearing in Washington that the reconstruction of Iraq must include a broad array of nations.
"We've got 19 countries on the ground, we've got commitment from another 19," he said. "Our goal is to get a large number of international forces from a lot of countries, including France and Germany," he added. Bureau Report