"The relevant (UN) Security Council Resolution 1483 made quite clear that the responsibility on the ground (in Iraq) is in the hands of the coalition. We are not part of the coalition," Fischer said after a meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"We are ready to improve the humanitarian situation. Our business community is ready to play its role in the reconstruction, if it is wanted," the minister said, whose country has strongly opposed the US-led war against Iraq.

"If we know more details about the reconstruction, we are open to discuss what could be our role in the reconstruction. But our position linked to the question of sending military troops is unchanged," he stressed.

Appearing together with Fischer, Powell said he and Fischer did discuss Iraq but he did not raise any request asking Germany to provide anything for Iraqi reconstruction.

"I gave the foreign minister an update on the situation (in Iraq) ... But we didn't get into any other specifics with respect to German contributions," Powell added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2003)