Schroeder said he was glad US President George W. Bush had said on Thursday he would work with the United Nations to disarm Iraq, but reiterated his concerns about the risks of a war.

"My arguments against a military intervention remain and that is why under my leadership Germany will not take part in a military intervention," Schroeder told the German parliament in a debate which is likely to be the last time he squares off against Stoiber before the election on September 22.

Amid high unemployment and a sluggish economy, Schroeder's Social Democrats had lagged the conservative opposition in polls all year until the chancellor's firm handling of devastating floods last month started a revival in the party's fortunes.

In a country where memories of the devastation of World War II still run deep, Schroeder's refusal to involve German troops in any war with Iraq has helped reinforce his dramatic comeback, with new polls yesterday suggesting he is on course for victory.

A survey by the Electoral Research Group yesterday showed Schroeder's SPD rising two points to 40 percent, while the opposition Christian Democrats fell one point to 37 percent.

The Greens, the SPD's junior partners, were steady on 7 percent, while the liberal Free Democrats, traditional partners of the Christian Democrats, slipped half a point to 7.5 percent.

(China Daily September 14, 2002)