Groundbreaking journalist predicts major US-Iran conflict

Veteran reporter Seymour Hersh, who unearthed the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam war, says the West could now be on the verge of a major conflict with the Muslim world.

The reporter is accusing the American President George Bush of "science fiction politics" over his attitude towards Iraq and possible attacks against neighbouring Iran.

Hersh - who also exposed the Abu Ghraib prison torture scandal - says Bush is trying to convince his people that Iran is behind the insurgency in Iraq.

He says there is no guarantee that Mr Bush will not go to war against Tehran before he leaves office.

"What we have now is operational planning," he said. "This is serious.

"They have done their targeting, they've done everything they need, they've limited the planning, they've made it a much less, to try and get support from our allies, including England - which I think they may have to some degree."