U.S. vows Saddam ouster in case of war

The United States yesterday said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would not be allowed to stay in power if war is launched against Iraq, but did not rule out allowing him to remain if he fully disarmed beforehand.

"Nobody should think, not even for a second, that military action could be possibly taken to disarm Saddam Hussein that would leave Saddam Hussein at the helm to rearm up later. No, that's not an option," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

Asked whether a full disarmament by Saddam before any conflict would satisfy U.S. demands for a "regime change," Fleischer said, "Let's first see him completely totally and immediately disarm, and see if that takes place."

The White House spokesman was seeking to clarify the U.S. position after it appeared over the weekend to rule out any possibility of Saddam's remaining in office whether or not he met U.N. disarmament demands.

Although the U.S. Congress has required a policy of "regime change" in Iraq, the White House had previously held out the possibility it might consider Iraq's regime to have changed in nature if Saddam meets U.N. disarmament demands.

Fleischer also played down a United Nations report that Iraq would in a week submit a new report on VX nerve gas and anthrax stocks.

"There is one thing that is helpful and that is complete, total and immediate disarmament," he said. He said Iraq had failed to meet this standard.

He also said the Iraqi plans to make additional reports would not delay a decision on possible war. "The president has said the timetable is weeks not months. He said that just over a month ago and nothing has changed that timetable."