The White House has condemned comments by German Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin likening US President George W Bush's political methods over Iraq to those of Adolf Hitler.

"This statement by the justice minister is outrageous and inexplicable," Mr Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

Daeubler-Gmelin: "Bush wants to divert attention"

The regional Schwaebisches Tagblatt newspaper quoted Ms Daeubler-Gmelin, as saying: "Bush wants to divert attention from his domestic problems. It's a classic tactic. It's one that Hitler used."

Throughout the current election campaign in Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has defied America by opposing US military action against Iraq.

The stance has proved popular with German voters.

Germany's opposition has demanded the resignation of the minister.

Michael Glos, head of the conservative Christian Social Union's parliamentary group, said she "must leave the government immediately and should also have nothing to do with the next parliament".

The justice ministry called the report "absurd" and insisted Ms Daeubler-Gmelin had not compared Mr Bush to Hitler, but did not deny outright that she had made the remark at a rally this week ahead of Sunday's election.