Bush stalls on handing Saddam to Iraqis

US President George Bush appeared to be at odds with interim leaders in Baghdad yesterday over when deposed dictator Saddam Hussein would be passed to the Iraqi authorities.

Mr Bush said yesterday the US will turn over Saddam to the new Iraqi interim government but declined to set a timetable, saying "appropriate security" must first be in place.

The former Iraqi dictator has been in US custody in an undisclosed location since he was found in December, but his status has been under discussion as the June 30 end of the US-led occupation approaches.