Washington: The United States will roll back proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in the world and may use force to take away these deadly arsenals from rogue states, a senior US government official warned.

Under Secretary of State John Bolton also told Congress that Washington will not offer disarmament inducements to North Korea, will punish suppliers of dual-use materials, and was going to offer Iraqi scientists specializing in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) a chance to emigrate, presumably to the United States, a press report said.

"We aim ultimately not just to prevent the spread of WMD, but also to eliminate or 'roll back' such weapons from rogue states and terrorist groups that already possess them or are close to doing so," Bolton told the House Committee on International Relations.

He noted that while the administration of President George Bush favoured peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the proliferation threat, it ruled out no options.

The United States and its allies must be willing to use economic sanctions, interdiction and seizure of materials that could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction, and, Bolton also pointed out, "pre-emptive" military force where required.

ANI