Friday, January 14 2005 10:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: America's divided opinion on the upcoming January 30 elections in Iraq came to the fore in New Delhi yesterday (Jan 13, 2005) of a US Congressional delegation openly aired contradictory views on the timing and format of the polls.

One of the members, while addressing a press conference, went to the extent of describing American military action in the Arab country as an "invasion".

"There is a need to change the format of polls. I see a civil war happening in Iraq if the elections are pushed (on January 30)," said Diane Watson, Congresswoman from California.

She favoured holding of regional polls rather than national elections, saying "Iraqis want regional leadership. National leadership will not work in Iraq in the prevailing situation."

The delegation leader James Leach said that the Bush Administration wants to see the elections to be held successfully on January 30.

"It is not right to delay polls. The US is committed to holding polls there," he said.

Watson said that the US had had "miscalculation" regarding existence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq.

"Those of us who were opposed to the American invasion in Iraq knew years ago that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," she said.

The member of House of Representatives hoped the tsunami disaster will help the US "look at the role we played and seek united peace so that we do not have to go apologising for our aggressive actions."