"We must not disconnect ourselves from progress in international research in biotechnology and genetic engineering," Schröder said. These remarks followed after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Biology Department at the University of Göttingen.

Schröder went further saying "research without fetters but not without borders." Effectively he stated that research methods should be explored as long as the medical potential of research with adult and embryonic stem cells hadn't been exhausted and the chance to fight incurable diseases remained.

Schröder also stood up for stem cell researchers' moral integrity and said it was arrogant to cast doubt on the scientists' motives.

Roughly 40.6 percent of Germans are in favor of easing restrictions on research on stem cells from embryos, according to a recent survey. With only 28 percent who told the Wahlen research group they opposed loosening the legislation, and the rest undecided, seems to be a representative force within Germany today in its views on stem cell research as a whole.

However, politicians from Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Greens, criticized the chancellor's comments.

Annette Schavan, education and research expert of the conservative-run federal states, accused Schroeder of stirring up debate for political gains before a general election likely in September.

Christian Democrat Herbert Huppe, deputy chairman of a parliamentary medical ethics committee, said Schroeder would never find a majority for his proposal in Germany's lower house, the Bundestag.

"Human dignity cannot be adjusted to fit new technology," he said.

The Catholic German Bishops Conference, firmly opposed to Schroeder's ideas, warned of setting dangerous precedents, referring to South Korean scientists who revealed last month they had cloned the first human embryo.

The Greens, junior coalition allies with Schroeder's Social Democrats, cautioned against changing the law.

"Not everything that can be done should be done. Human dignity has priority over the research and utilisation interests of third parties," said party chief Claudia Roth...

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