Schröder Offers More German Help for Iraq

A fierce critic of the war in Iraq, Germany offered Friday to provide more help for reconstruction, giving some welcome news to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her fence-mending tour of Europe. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder announced Germany would extend its training programs for the Iraqi police and military which are currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates. “I have declared Germany’s readiness to not just continue these projects but, if desired, to also expand on them,” he said. “We have a lot of experience with building functional institutions for countries, not just ministries but institutions for civil areas as well and this is the kind of assistance that we would like to make available to the Iraqi government if it is desired,” Schröder said at a press conference after talks with Rice. Germany has repeatedly refused to send troops to Iraq and there was no indication from Schröder of any change in that position. (AFP)