Powell says US will not try to push Saddam out

The US Secretary of State is assuring the Arab world the White House demand for regime change in Iraq aims at disarmament, not ousting Saddam Hussein.

Colin Powell says the policy was inherited from the Clinton administration by the Bush administration.

"If he co-operates, then the basis of changed-regime policy has shifted because his regime has, in fact, changed its policy to one of co-operation," Mr Powell said.

"We came into office in 2001 and kept that policy because Saddam Hussein had not changed," Mr Powell told the newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi .

"We now believe it is appropriate for Saddam Hussein to be forced to change, either by the threat of war, and therefore that compels him to co-operate," Mr Powell said.

"So if he co-operates, then that is different than if he does not cooperate," Mr Powell said.