This is a task that no-one should evade

Chanceller Gerhard Schroeder

The plan had already been accepted by the cabinet, but under the German constitution it also needed parliamentary approval.

The 500-strong German force will now join the thousands of other Nato troops already on the ground in Macedonia, where the weapons collection mission is into its third day.

They were expected to leave for Macedonia later on Wednesday.

The deployment was seen as a test for Gerhard Schroeder

The right-wing opposition Christian Democrats had earlier threatened not to back the deployment, claiming that the German army had been so depleted by cuts that it was not capable of foreign assignments.

Their support was won back after Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder promised extra money for the mission.

Up to 30 members of Mr Schroeder's red-green coalition had also threatened to rebel, some fearing the risks were too great and the mission could drag on.

In a heated parliamentary session, many members argued that the mission was too dangerous, too likely to drag on, or lacking the proper United Nations mandate.

Thousands of Nato troops are already on the ground

But Mr Schroeder insisted that Germany should play its part.

"This is a task that no-one should evade," he told the parliament.

Mr Schroeder had to cut short a tour of eastern Germany to see the plan through.

Germany already has about 5,000 troops in Kosovo and 2,000 in Bosnia.