Germany leaves open possible lead in Congo force

INNSBRUCK, Austria, Mar 6 (Reuters) Germany appeared today to soften its resistance to leading a proposed European Union force to help safeguard June elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but insisted other EU nations must provide troops.

Britain and France have declined to take the lead, leaving Germany as the only other EU nation with sufficient military planning capacity to run the mission to help protect Congo's first free elections since independence from Belgium in 1961.

Asked ahead of a meeting of EU defence chiefs if Berlin remained reluctant to take on the lead role, German Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung expressly did not rule out that possibility.

''We have always said we will not sidestep a responsibility, but there is an overall responsibility for Europe here,'' he told reporters on arrival.

''We have always made clear that this has to be provided by Europe and that it should be fairly distributed (among EU countries),'' he added.

A number of EU nations, including Germany, France, Sweden, Ireland and Belgium, have said they would be willing to support the mission. But it remains unclear how many troops the bloc would be able to raise for the potentially risky operation.

''It is hoped that some nations will be more specific in what they can offer,'' said one EU diplomat ahead of the two-day talks in Innsbruck.

Others played down the likelihood of major progress at the talks, pointing out that the June 18 election date meant the EU had a few more weeks to agree terms for the mission.

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