Struck believes he has Rumsfeld's ear

German Defence Minister Peter Struck has said Berlin and Washington have made good progress in normalising relations following their differences over the Iraq war.

He was speaking in Washington after meeting his US counterpart, Donald Rumsfeld, in the first high-level contact between the two governments since the start of the war.

"German-US relations are again returning to normal," he was quoted by German radio as saying on his flight back to Berlin.

However, differences remain over Germany's possible post-war role in Iraq with Berlin reluctant to commit troops for any peacekeeping operation.

At present, I do not see any sign that Germany's commitment [in Iraq] is wanted Peter Struck

Mr Struck, who was in the US capital for a meeting of Nato ministers, had meetings both with Mr Rumsfeld and US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage who thanked him, he said, for Germany's deployment of peacekeepers in Kabul.

Neither US official would comment on the talks afterwards, but Mr Struck said they were held in a "friendly, working atmosphere".

Germany was a leading opponent of the US-led war in Iraq, with many seeing Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's vocal opposition as a key factor in his re-election last September.

Germany's share

Mr Struck said his meetings in Washington were a "success" but key differences between the two countries remain.

With both Germany and France insisting that the United Nations should lead the way in the reconstruction of Iraq, the minister confirmed that he had received no request from the US for German participation in the stabilisation force being planned for the country.

GERMAN COMMITMENTS Has 9,000 soldiers deployed on peacekeeping missions Missions include Afghanistan and the Balkans

He also responded with surprise to reports that Poland had announced it wanted German and Danish troops to help its own forces patrol Iraq as part of the stabilisation force.

"This suggestion is absolutely astonishing for the federal government," Mr Struck said.

Speaking on German TV before his talks with Donald Rumsfeld, he recalled that Germany already had substantial military commitments abroad.

"At present, I do not see any sign that Germany's commitment [in Iraq] is wanted," he said.

"I am glad about that because I must point out that we are faced with a considerable burden because of our participation in foreign missions."

European angle

Mr Struck did not comment after his talks on reported friction with Washington over last week's mini-summit in Brussels on setting up a European defence and security union, independent of Nato.

He had said before the talks in Washington that he wished to dispel mistrust over the initiative, which was discussed by Germany, Belgium, France and Luxembourg.

"In my view it is not justified," he had said. "We hope that Great Britain in particular will soon participate in our initiative."

Mr Struck is due to hold talks in Berlin with French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie later on Tuesday.