The announcement from the United States that it is working with London on a new U.N. Security Council resolution has elicited a firm response from Germany, with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder stating he "sees no reason for a new UN resolution" at the present time.

Speaking in an interview with Germany's public television, ARD, the Chancellor voiced opposition to US and British attempts to lobby other nations in the Security Council to secure a fresh UN mandate against Iraq. "I think we would be well advised to stick with resolution 1441," said Schröder, "It gives us everything we need."

Germany, which has been the driving force behind western European calls for a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis, is united with France in leading opposition to any new resolution at this time on the grounds that UN inspections in Iraq appear to be working.

On Monday EU leaders agreed on a compromise which set no deadline for Baghdad to comply fully with U.N. disarmament resolutions, but stipulated that U.N. weapons inspections could not go on indefinitely and that force could be used as a last resort. Russia has also lined up with the agreement.

No change of tack

The German government has denied accusations by opposition parties CDU/CSU and FDP that becoming a signatory to the statement by EU leaders indicates a shift in stance on the use of force against Iraq. Schröder signed up to the joint declaration in Brussels on Monday, after persuading fellow EU leaders to omit a warning that "time is rapidly running out".

Gerhard Schröder and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer are both adamant that they did not need to alter their position in order to be signatories to the warning. "Germany's position hasn't changed at all and won't change" said Schröder following a meeting of his Social Democratic Party. "The declaration is abstract and in general terms with a general validity", he said. "The inspectors have to be allowed to do the work. We don't want to set any ultimatums. As a result Germany was able to agree to the declaration."

However insistent Schröder is that he has not back-tracked on his anti-war stance, analysts and Germany's opposition believe the statement marks a reversal which could incite a backbench rebellion. Meanwhile, CDU party leader Angela Merkel welcomed the declaration, saying "the Chancellor's change of course is in Germany's interests."