Saudis deny plan to oust Saddam

Saudi Arabia has denied the existence of a plan to oust Saddam Hussein, as Kuwait, from which Iraqi forces were driven during the last Gulf War in 1991, anticipates another conflict pitting the West against its dangerous neighbour.

The Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Nawaf bin Abdul-Aziz, said reports that the Saudis were proposing an amnesty for Iraqi generals close to Saddam to encourage a coup against him were "totally baseless". The prince said the kingdom "would not interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq and has no contacts with Iraqis inside or outside".

In Kuwait, unlike most of the Middle East, there is overwhelming support for the removal of the Iraqi dictator, and Kuwaitis are mystified and concerned by the public debate in Britain over the desirability of war. "It is not enough just to disarm Saddam," one local columnist wrote.

Kuwaiti newspapers are much freer than most in the Arab world, and also less critical of American policy in the region. "They are aware of their reliance on American military power as the main tool to get rid of Saddam," a Western diplomat observed.

Kuwaitis also want Britain to be closely involved, militarily and politically, in any campaign. One official claimed the Americans were unlikely to have the stomach for the number of casualties needed to march all the way to Baghdad. "I know the British would," he added. "That is why we would feel much more confident if the British were here with us and with the Americans on the front line."

Senior Kuwaiti sources said they feared a post-Saddam leadership might revive the old Iraqi claim to the small, oil-rich state. One official, pointing out that Britain had saved Kuwait from invasion as far back as 1920, said: "We are grateful that America led the coalition that liberated our nation 12 years ago, but we have much longer historic ties with Britain. Time and again, London has protected our independence."