February 6, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 4,1423

BERLIN, Feb 5: Germany will not vote for war on Iraq no matter what evidence US Secretary of State Colin Powell presents to the UN Security Council on Baghdad’s alleged weapons programme, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

The spokesman, Bela Anda, said hours before Mr Powell’s speech that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s stance would not change.

The chancellor had said last month that Germany would not vote in favour of war at the Security Council.

Asked if that position would remain no matter what Powell told the UN body, the spokesman replied: “That is correct. That is the situation.”

Schroeder’s opposition to war is popular in Germany, but has angered the United States and seriously dented their traditionally close relationship. —AFP