"What is important is responding to the needs of the Iraqi people instead of having theoretical or formal discussions," Barroso said in Lisbon after a meeting with visiting German President Johannes Rau.

Barroso said the Portuguese government, a vocal supporter of the United States-led invasion of Iraq, was pondering over what form Portugal's participation in the postwar stabilization efforts would take and would announce a final decision soon.

Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, who opposed the war, said Monday he would only support the deployment of Portuguese troops to a "stabilization" force in Iraq if the creation of such a force had the support of international organizations of which Portugal was a member, namely the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the European Union.

However, the Portuguese president, also head of Portugal's armed forces, has a largely figurehead role and would have to approve any overseas deployment of the country's troops.

The Portuguese government is reportedly considering sending police officers instead of troops to the "stabilization" force to get around the need for the president's approval.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2003)