Germany: 'Deal on Iraq spies' may end Steinmeier's election hopes

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4727437.ece

The undercover activities of two German spies in Baghdad just before the US invasion could sabotage the hopes of the Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier to unseat Angela Merkel, the conservative Chancellor, at the next general election.

The agents, who delivered targeting information for US airstrikes, are due to testify before a parliamentary commission next Thursday and, according to leaked documents published in the latest edition of Stern magazine, are likely to embarrass Mr Steinmeier, the Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor.

At the outset of the US war against Saddam in 2003, Mr Steinmeier was chief of staff to Gerhard Schröder, then the Chancellor, and in charge of co-ordinating the work of the intelligence services. Mr Schröder narrowly won the general election of 2002 with the promise that Germany would take no part in a war against Iraq — drawing the fury of the Bush Administration but also the support of many pacifist and left-of-centre voters.

Now it emerges that the Chancellor and Mr Steinmeier may have struck a secret deal with the US to provide on-the-spot intelligence to facilitate the bombardment of Iraq and clear the way for the US-led invasion.