CIA 'misled Bush'

A major row has erupted over a Senate inquiry report today that blames the CIA for misleading President Bush over Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.

On the eve of the report into intelligence failures, departing CIA chief George Tenet launched an unprecedented defence of his organisation. In a farewell speech to staff, he praised their "honesty" and "commitment to truth."

It was also revealed Mr Tenet, whose resignation is linked to the failure to find WMD, had also warned the White House there was no link between Iraqi intelligence and the leader of the 11 September hijackers.

Giving evidence to the committee in March, Mr Tenet contradicted claims by Vice President Dick Cheney that terrorist leader Mohamed Atta had met Iraqi agents in Prague. In a newly-released transcript, the CIA chief told committee members there was "no credible evidence" of the meeting, previously described by Mr Cheney as "pretty well confirmed."

The 500-page intelligence committee report is expected to contain scathing criticism of the CIA for providing the White House with false reports on Iraq's biological and nuclear weapons.