In talks with the EU official, Javier Solana, on Wednesday, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder made "absolutely clear that there will be no German military contribution in Iraq, and thus also no deployment of troops," the spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

Solana was quoted by the Bild am Sonntag weekly saying that Germany had ruled out getting involved militarily in Iraq for the moment, but not in principle.

"If NATO were to participate in the stabilisation of the country at the request of the United Nations, the question of military involvement comes up again for every member," Solana said.

The German government spokesman said that remark was "purely speculative."

Solana also added that there was no indication of NATO receiving such a request.

The German government opposed the war in Iraq and has refused to send troops to help stabilise the country.