Washington, Sept 17: Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld has said he had no reason to believe that Iraq's deposed President Saddam Hussein had a hand in the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. At a Defence Department news conference yesterday, Rumsfeld was asked about a poll that indicated nearly 70 per cent of American respondents believed the Iraqi leader probably was personally involved. "I've not seen any indication that would lead me to believe that I could say that," Rumsfeld said. He added, "We know he was giving $25,000 a family for anyone who would go out and kill innocent men, women and children. And we know of various other activities. But on that specific one, no, not to my knowledge." The Bush administration has asserted that Saddam's government had links to al-Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden that masterminded the Sept 11 attacks. And in various public statements over the past year or so administration officials have suggested close links.

Vice President Dick Cheney said on Sunday, for example, that success in stabilising and democratising Iraq would strike a major blow at the "the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under assault for many years, but most especially on 9/11."

In an appearance on NBC television's "meet the press," Cheney was asked whether he was surprised that more than two-thirds of Americans in the Washington post poll would express a belief that Iraq was behind the attacks.

"No, I think it's not surprising that people make that connection, he replied.

Bureau Report