Germany readies 3,900 troops for war on terrorism

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has offered up to 3,900 German troops for the US war on terrorism.

It supports Germany's pledge of solidarity with the United States.

The request includes help in combating nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

Schroeder said Germany was reacting to a US request for military aid and was ready to offer it. But specific decisions on deployment would have to be made by the German parliament, he said.

He said the government's decision was made in "solidarity (with the United States) that I have expressed again and again" since the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

"We mustn't forget that the military measures are only a part of the measures against international terrorism," Schroeder said.

He emphasized the importance of political and diplomatic efforts to hold the international coalition against terrorism together, the humanitarian mission to help Afghans, economic sanctions aimed at undermining terror networks and cooperation of secret services.