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The German government said on Thursday it was dismayed by the start of the US-led strike on Iraq and offered humanitarian help to the Iraqi people.
"News of the start of the war against Iraq has sparked grave concern and dismay in the federal government," it said in a statement.
"Now everything must be done to avert a humanitarian disaster for Iraq's civilian population," it also said.
"The government hopes military action will come to an end as quickly as possible. It expects the warring parties to do everything to prevent civilian casualties," it added.
Germany was among the countries opposing the military action against Iraq and trying to prevent it.
The German government also called for avoiding the use of weapons of mass destruction in the war.
The government said that United Nations weapons inspectors had been having success in disarming Iraq peacefully and that it regretted they had not been given the chance to continue their work.
(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)
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