The contribution would include units specialised in detecting chemical, nuclear or biological weapons. Germany would also send minesweepers and six Tornado warplanes, the paper said.

"The German participation corresponds to our actual weight in NATO and our proposed future role," the paper quoted a defence ministry report as saying.

The western defence alliance wants to set up a rapid reaction force of some 21,000 troops by 2006, capable of deploying within days to any crisis zone in the world.

The first units are planned to be operationally ready later this year.

Berlin is making 1,200 navy and air force personnel available immediately, while the remaining troops will join the force before 2005, the Berliner Zeitung said.

German troops are already heavily involved in peacekeeping missions around the world, notably in Afghanistan.

WAR.WIRE