BERLIN, Jan 16: German opposition parties said on Monday they will force the government to call an inquiry into the decision to share intelligence with the United States during the Iraq war.

“We will get an inquiry because all three opposition parties support this step,” said Volker Beck, the chairman of the Greens’ parliamentary group.

The Greens, the Free Democrats and the Left Party were expected to bring the motion in parliament on Tuesday.

Beck said it was likely that Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier would be called to testify during the probe to explain the government’s decision to leave two agents of the German intelligence services abroad (BND) in Baghdad despite Germany’s official condemnation of the war.

Steinmeier, who served as then chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s chief of staff, confirmed and defended the step last week, saying he had been party to it.—AFP