Powell picks holes in Iraq's dossier

Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, gave a hint yesterday that the White House will reject the Iraqi weapons declaration, saying there were problems with the 12,000-page document.

"We said at the very beginning that we approached it with scepticism and the information I have received so far is that the scepticism is well founded," he said.

The White House is expected to give its final judgment on the declaration to the UN security council at the end of the week. If it was considered to violate the UN resolution, the international community had an obligation to act, Mr Powell said.

The US was sharing its analysis with the UN weapons inspectorate, the International Atomic Energy Agency and its fellow permanent members of the security council: Britain, France, Russia and China.

Hans Blix, the chief inspector, is due to report to the council on Thursday.

The US says that omissions from the declaration will be classified as a "material breach" of the resolution.

It has asked the inspectors to increase the pressure on the Iraqis to allow them to interview scientists who may have knowledge of weapons stockpiles. Mr Powell said: "If Iraq does not comply I'm sure the international community will take note and decide what action is appropriate."

The White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said Iraq would not be given a chance to amend the document.

"It was abundantly plain, from the will of the United Nations, that this was Iraq's last chance to inform the world in an accurate, complete and full way what weapons of mass destruction they possessed. That was plain to all going into this one, last, final-chance process."

Earlier, in an interview with an Arabic newspaper published in London, Mr Powell continued the efforts to tone down the bellicose US rhetoric and win new allies in the region.

He said the demand for a change of regime in Iraq was aimed at disarmament and not necessarily at deposing President Saddam Hussein.

"If he cooperates, then the basis of changed-regime policy has shifted, because his regime has in fact changed its policy to one of cooperation," he said.

The Pentagon is considering whether to conduct covert propaganda operations to win support in countries friendly to the US. The policy may include financing public demonstrations in favour of the US and building schools to combat anti-western sentiment.

Mr Fleischer confirmed the existence of the plans but said it should not be assumed that they were at an advanced stage. And the president would not condone "lying".

A New York Times report suggested that the Pentagon might pay journalists in other countries to write stories friendly to the US, or hire contractors to organise rallies.

An earlier attempt to set up an office of strategic information was abandoned earlier this year under a storm of criticism.