Afghanistan not suited for democracy: German defense minister

German Bundeswehr army soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) conduct a mission in Chahar Dara in the outskirts of Kunduz, December 18, 2009.

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg does not see democracy as a suitable political system for Afghanistan, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

The comments will further fuel skepticism over Germany's military operations in Afghanistan and add to growing political momentum against a troop increase which Berlin is considering.

"I've long come to the belief that Afghanistan, because of its history and background, is not currently suited to be a model democracy by our standards," Guttenberg told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

On Thursday the head of Germany's Protestant churches described the Afghanistan war as unjust and called for a pullout of the 4,400 German troops taking part in the NATO-led operation against the Taliban.

Washington wants NATO allies to contribute at least 5,000 more soldiers to the mission. However, polls show the German public oppose the troops' presence and would like to see them withdrawn in the next few years.

(Writing by Brian Rohan; Editing by Angus MacSwan)