New Delhi: US Secretary of State Colin Powell today (Dec 15, 2003) telephoned External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and shared his thoughts that the arrest of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would bring about a change in the psychology of the whole situation and lead to greater respect for the Iraqi Governing Council.

Powell hoped this would "lead to rebuilding and reconstruction and greater respect for the Iraqi Governing Council", an official statement said.

Sinha expressed the hope that these developments would contribute to stabilisation of Iraq, it said.

PTI