"The resolution is a political basis, is an attempt, to improve the chances of stabilising" Iraq, Schroeder said on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in the US state of Georgia.

"Whether that attempt can succeed is an open question. I am not optimistic about this," he said, after travelling to Saint Simons from nearby Sea Island, where the summit is being held, by helicopter to speak to reporters.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Tuesday a US-British proposed resolution on Iraq's legal and political framework after the occupation administration under Paul Bremer hands over power on June 30.

On the chances of bridging Iraq's various religious and ethnic differences, Schroeder said: "this will be a very tough road".

He said that while much optimism had been expressed about Iraq during the G8 summit, not even the United States and Britain were saying "everything is wonderful" there.

He said his meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan had shown that even leaders in the region "also have fears that things could become even more difficult than one or the other might have imagined."

Schroeder said talks on what further role NATO could play in Iraq did not include the idea of sending Alliance troops to replace the US-led forces there.

"At the moment we're discussing the role that NATO could play in training Iraqi soldiers," he said.

NATO does not have any permanent presence in Iraq but it helps Poland, which controls the central south sector there, in a variety of supporting roles including assisting with communications, logistics and transport.

Schroeder reiterated that Germany would not try to block any NATO engagement in the country, but he said he was convinced that such a move would not help improve security.

He said he had discussed his position on NATO's role in Iraq directly with US President George W. Bush during their bilateral meeting earlier in the summit.

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