BERLIN, Aug 9: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a key US ally, on Friday ruled out Berlin participating in a possible US-led attack on Iraq.

In an interview on public television, Schroeder said: “I think that if there is military intervention, we should be cautious. That means that Germany will not take part” in any US-led action against Iraq.”

The chancellor said Germany was, after the United States, the largest contributor of troops in international operations, providing “more than any other European state”.

Germany has about 60,000 soldiers assigned to or tied up in missions outside the country.

“Therefore, the limit has been reached in what can reasonably be expected from us,” Schroeder said.

When a reporter asked the chancellor, who is campaigning for a general election on Sept 22, if he might later change his mind, he said he would not.

He said that his statement “would hold. And there is nothing to change. Our allies know this”.

He said the allies had not reacted to Germany’s refusal to join any future military operation, mainly since Washington has not yet informed or consulted them about any possible attack.

Germany’s governing coalition, whose Social Democrat and Green parties are in the middle of a tough election campaign, has multiplied its calls against an attack on Baghdad in recent days.

IRAQI PAPER: Iraq warned on Friday that US forces would be walking to their own graves if the “cowboys” in Washington unleashed a military campaign against Baghdad.