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Is the US acting as a sole superpower by snubbing UN? Post your views

Washington: US President George W Bush on July 23 hailed the deaths of Saddam Hussein's two sons as the clearest sign yet that "the former regime is gone and will not be coming back''.

Bush called Uday and Qusai Hussein, who were both killed on July 22 during a firefight with US forces, "two of the regime's chief henchmen ... responsible for torture, maiming and murder of countless Iraqis''.

Still, in a Rose Garden appearance with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and L Paul Bremer, the US occupation Governor for Iraq, Bush said that "a few remaining holdouts'' loyal to Saddam's government are complicating efforts to stabilise Iraq and advance freedom.

"These killers are the enemies of Iraq's people. They operate mainly in a few areas of the country. And wherever they operate, they're being hunted and they will be defeated,'' Bush said in his brief remarks. He did not respond to questions shouted by reporters.

The President sought to present a progress report on Iraq since he declared major combat over nearly three months ago.

"We are determined to help build a free and sovereign Democratic nation,'' he said.

While the White House was exhibiting obvious pleasure in deaths of the two Saddam sons, questions continued to dog the administration over the President's use of discredited intelligence to bolster his case for war with Iraq.