Bush rules Saddam out of 9-11

PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH said there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, an idea held by 70% of Americans.

“There’s no question that Saddam Hussein had al-Qaida ties,” the US president said, but he added, “We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the September 11 attacks.”

The president’s comment on Saddam was in line with a statement on Tuesday by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who said that he had not seen any evidence that the former Iraqi leader was involved in the attacks.