German minister admits German intel agents in Iraq since 2003

Berlin, 12 Jan. (AKI) - Contradicting an earlier statement, German foreign minister Franz-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday confirmed that German secret service agents have operated in Iraq since 2003 when the war that toppled Saddam began. Steinmeier was an undersecretary in the office of former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - a staunch opponent of the US-led invasion of Iraq. He was reacting to news reports that claimed German agents had helped during US military operations in Iraq.

Steinmeier initially denied any knowledge of covert German missions in Iraq, but a few hours later he told reporters that operatives of Germany's BND intelligence agency were deployed there to gather "a minimal amount of information on the war."

In a front page story published on Thursday, the respected Munich daily Suddeutsche Zeitung quoted a high-tranking German security source as saying that two Federal Intelligence Agents (BND), based in Baghdad, helped the US military choose targets during their invasion of Iraq.

The report, which also claimed Schroeder's office knew about the cooperation and approved it, has shocked many in Germany.

Schroeder, a Social Democrat (SDP), failed to win a clear majority in last year's legislative elections and resigned from the chancellor's position. He was replaced last month by Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel, who formed a government of national unity which includes the SDP.