Environment Minister Juergen Trittin said the mission would cover the 1991 Gulf War that ousted Iraqi troops from Kuwait, the war earlier this year that toppled Saddam, and his dictatorship.

"The British and the Americans have already signalled their agreement," the minister told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"That is significant, because they will also face some critical questions, such as the impact of using depleted uranium munitions."

Berlin was fiercely opposed to the US-led war on Iraq, angering Washington and severely straining ties between the long-standing transatlantic allies.

Germany and other countries such as France have said they want peacekeeping efforts in the country placed under firmly a UN mandate.

Trittin, however, said that even if an appropriate UN mandate were passed, "the German army could not afford to take part."

German soldiers are already heavily involved in other peacekeeping missions around the world, such as Afghanistan.

TERRA.WIRE