German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's government was unaware of German spies in Iraq allegedly helping the U.S. to mark targets for bombing during the war.

Steinmeier, who, as chief of staff to then Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder,had oversight of the security services at the time, told reporters that Berlin had taken a clear stance of not getting involved in the Iraq war and that all officials working for the state followed this line. Schroeder strongly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

He admitted that German intelligence agents were based in Iraq during the war.

German media, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and NDR television, quoted German security sources and a U.S. military official as saying that two agents of Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency were in Iraq during the 2003 war and helped identify bombing targets for U.S. warplanes.

The newspaper quoted anonymous German security sources as saying that the BND's cooperation with U.S. agents was definitely approved, adding that the approval was a political decision taken by Schroeder's government after talks between the BND foreign intelligence agency and the chancellery.

NDR television, quoted a former U.S. military official as saying in a preview of a program to be broadcast later on Thursday that the help of the German agents led to the air raid on April 7, 2003, on a Baghdad suburb where former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was believed to be staying. The attack killed at least 12 civilians.

German opposition parties demanded on Thursday that the government investigate the allegation.

When asked if he knew anything about reports, Steinmeier simply said,"No."

A BND spokesman confirmed two agents remained in Iraq, but firmly denied any help had been given to the U.S. in striking targets and rejected the media reports as "distorted and untrue."

He insisted that the stationing and work of all BND agents had been agreed in advance with the Schroeder government.

According to other media reports, former foreign minister Joschka Fischer has also said he knew nothing about allegations other than what he had read in the media.

Source: Xinhua