US President George W. Bush said Friday he has no timetable for making a decision on whether to carry out a military strike to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the decision might not come to a decision this year.
"If I did, I wouldn't tell you or the enemy," Bush said in Crawford, Texas, in an interview with US media.
Asked whether he would make a decision this year, the US president responded: "not necessarily." As to the ongoing domestic debate on the Iraqi issue, Bush said such debate is appropriate.
Bush, accusing Iraq of developing weapons of mass destruction, has repeatedly vowed to use whatever tools at his disposal to seek a regime change in Iraq.
This is the first time for Bush to suggest that he may not order a military strike against Iraq this year.
US Officials, Iraqi Opposition Discuss Saddam's Overthrow
Senior US officials, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, met in Washington Friday with leaders of six Iraqi opposition groups to discuss how to overthrow the Iraqi government led by President Saddam Hussein.
The Iraqi opposition leaders met Powell for only a few minutes and then held two hours of talks with US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Marc Grossman, and Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith.
In a statement issued after the meetings, State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said the talks represented an important step towards a post-Saddam Iraq.
"The US and the Iraqi opposition share a vision of a better future for the Iraqi people after the departure of Saddam Hussein and his regime," he said.
Hamid al-Bayati, of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution, told reporters that the opposition leaders have presented to the US officials their plan for overthrowing President Saddam and the establishment of a "democratic and pluralistic government."
He said both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the Iraqi opposition in consultation with all opposition elements, ensuring sufficient representation for all the Iraqi people and their political forces which are opposed to the Iraqi government.
The opposition leaders attending the meeting include: Sharif Ali bin Hussein of the Constitutional Monarchy Movement, Iyad Allawi of the Iraqi National Accord, Abdelaziz al Hakim of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Ahmad Chalabi of the Iraqi National Congress, and Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
On Saturday, the opposition leaders are expected to meet with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and also speak to US Vice President Dick Cheney by video telephone.
(Edited from Xinhua News Agency, August 10, 2002)
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