He said the frigate Brandenburg, which has been patrolling off the Horn of Africa as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, will extend to the Gulf of Oman between Oman and Iran.

He denied a report in Germany's Bild newspaper that the vessel would patrol the Iranian coast as well as helping keep a check on Iraq.

Bild said the shift was agreed after US warships moved further east toward the Pakistani coast.

WAR.WIRE