Germany is considering sending a limited number of troops and vehicles to the United Arab Emirates to help train Iraqi forces in truck repair, road and bridge building and mine removal, officials said on Wednesday. "In this connection, the government is considering making available 100 trucks from German military inventory to Iraqi forces," spokesman Hans Langguth told a news conference. Germany, one of the strongest Western opponents of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, has refused to send soldiers to the country but has agreed to help with training Iraqi forces as it seeks to smooth relations with Washington. NATO countries agreed last month to help train security forces the new Iraqi government is trying to build up in the face of attacks from insurgents opposed to the U.S.-backed administration and the continued presence of foreign troops. A spokesman for the defence ministry declined to say how many German personnel might be involved in the operation but said it would be a "limited number".
