Washington: US Secretary of State Colin Powell has dismissed as "nonsense" a report that he will not continue in the post even if President George W Bush is re-elected for a second term.

"It's nonsense. I don't know what they are talking about. I serve at the pleasure of the President. The President and I have not discussed anything other than my continuing to do my job for him," Powell told Radio Sawa on August 4, referring to the 'Washington Post' story.

"This is just one of those stories that emerge in Washington that reflects nothing more than gossip, and the gossip leads to a rash of speculation about who might fill a vacancy that does not exist.

"And so I really am not surprised by this kind of gossip. I have seen it before," Powell said.

Citing "sources familiar with the conversation," the 'Post' said in August 4's edition that Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage recently told National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice that he and Powell will leave on January 21, 2005, the day after the next Presidential inauguration.

"The story has no substance and the so-called conversation between my Deputy, Mr Armitage, and National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, did not take place. And therefore, the story has no source or basis in the beginning, and most of it is just all gossip and speculation from no source," Powell said.

On August 4, State Department Press Secretary Scott McLellan had dismissed the report as "speculation and gossip running full speed in Washington".

PTI