Washington: US President Geroge W Bush has asked Saudi Arabia to lessen it opposition to the proposed military action to oust Saddam Hussein, saying that "the world would be safer and better off without the Iraqi President".

During a meeting with the visiting Saudi Arabian Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Bush said he had not yet taken any decision on the course of action to depose Saddam although "he was a threat to the world peace."

Presidential Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said the talks, which were held on August 27 in presence of National Security Adviser Condolezza Rice, revolved around a variety of topics that included the war against terrorism, the situation in the Middle East and the issue of child custody cases in Saudi Arabia, particularly those related to American citizens.

"The President stressed that he has made no decision, that he will continue to engage in consultations with Saudi Arabia and other nations about steps in the Middle East, steps in Iraq," Fleischer added.

The President also told Bandar that he believes the Iraqi leader is a menace to world peace but has made no decision on the best course of action to achieve Washington's policy of ousting him, said Fleischer.

Asked whether the Saudis share the same views about Saddam Hussein, as President Bush, Fleischer claimed, "Saudi Arabia's position has been, if you have listened to Adel Al Jubir (the Crown Prince's foreign policy adviser), for example, that Saddam Hussein is a threat."

PTI