US plan to topple Saddam

Serious top-level planning is under way in Washington to topple Saddam Hussein in Iraq following an opinion poll showing Americans would strongly support a widening of the war on terrorism.

There is also growing backing among key Muslim allies for such a move, it is claimed.

A USA Today survey finds Americans are in no hurry to bring the troops home once the fighting ends in Afghanistan. "Emboldened by military success in Afghanistan and the relatively low number of casualties, two out of three Americans say US armed forces next should be sent to fight in other countries that harbour terrorists," the poll's authors say. Two out of three say that if the war is extended to Iraq, US troops would be just as successful as they have been in Afghanistan.

The New York Times reports today that the option of taking the campaign to Iraq has "gained significant ground" in recent weeks both in Washington and among important US allies in the Muslim world. The paper says: "Senior Bush administration officials, in their statements and in consultations with allies have indicated that the success of military operations in Afghanistan is changing opinion in the Middle East over the feasibility of moving against Mr Hussein."

Washington officials are aware that the European allies are cool on the idea of taking the campaign directly to Saddam Hussein.

But diplomats in the Middle East tell the New York Times that Turkey is ready to allow the US to use its bases if it will help to remove Saddam from power.

Other countries in the region need to know that Washington is serious about ending Saddam's reign and is not just sabre- rattling. Their views on such an operation are said to have altered since new evidence has surfaced that Iraq is developing chemical and biological weapons, and that Saddam is interested in acquiring nuclear weapons.

The New York Times says: "In the past two weeks, at least one prominent Arab envoy to Washington has reversed his view that an American-led military operation in Iraq would be a disaster, or that it would fan the flames of Arab dissent and perhaps lead to the overthrow of some weaker rulers."

The demonstration of a "new model" of warfare by the US and Britain in Afghanistan is seen to have created a new opportunity to deal with Saddam.

The diplomat is quoted as saying that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria would support such a plan and would be able to deal with any protests among their own people.

"How many people would cry for Saddam if he goes?" the diplomat asked.

President Bush has been working with Russia-to draft a new ultimatum to Saddam, insisting on the return of UN inspectors to search for illicit weapons.

Secretary of State Colin Powell has sent a State Department team to northern Iraq as part of a project to "put in place an armed opposition inside Iraq". He has urged that the White House explore the idea of bringing Iraqi exiles based in Iran into play as part of a "southern alliance" with Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq.

? Saddam Hussein today called for an emergency Arab summit to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. He suggested the meeting take place in the Saudi holy city of Mecca "or any other Arab capital which guarantees the attendance of all" leaders.

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