Berlin, April 11: The leaders of Germany, Russia and France will hold a tri-lateral summit in Saint Petersburg today to discuss the post-war reconstruction of Iraq, a German government spokesman said. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac will discuss "reconstruction in Iraq, the role of the United Nations and cooperation between Russia and the European Union," he said.

Germany, Russia and France oppose the war against Iraq and want the United Nations to play a central role in post-war reconstruction and the formation of a new government in Baghdad. Chirac announced earlier this week that he would travel to Saint Petersburg on Friday and Saturday, the same time that a long-planned German-Russian summit was scheduled to be held.

Bureau Report