BERLIN, Sept 3: A German minister came under fire on Friday for labelling the Iraq invasion "a true crime", a remark that could reopen wounds between the United States and Germany.

Germany's conservative opposition urged Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Friday to reprimand Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, minister for economic cooperation and development.

Wieczorek-Zeul said in a speech late on Wednesday the Iraq war had caused terrible human suffering. "That is a true crime," said the left-wing member of Schroeder's Social Democrats (SPD) who is also a peace campaigner.

Leaders of the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), who supported the US-led invasion of Iraq, called on Wieczorek-Zeul to retract the remarks and Schroeder to silence her. "The chancellor needs to put a muzzle on Wieczorek-Zeul and her anti-American attacks," said Christian Ruck, a CDU deputy. -Reuters