WASHINGTON, June 17: The New York Times on Thursday called on President George Bush to apologize to the American people for going to war on Iraq after an official probe into the Sept 11 attacks found no evidence linking Iraq and Al Qaeda.

"Now President Bush should apologize to the American people, who were led to believe something different," the Times editorial said. "Of all the ways Mr Bush persuaded Americans to back the invasion of Iraq last year, the most plainly dishonest was his effort to link his war of choice with the battle against terrorists worldwide."

"This is not just a matter of the president's diminishing credibility, although that's disturbing enough," The New York Times said. "The war on terror has actually suffered as the conflict in Iraq has diverted military and intelligence resources from places like Afghanistan, where there could really be Qaeda forces, including Mr bin Laden."

Bush, the daily added, is responsible for his government's actions since September 11. "That includes, inexcusably, selling the false Iraq-Qaeda claim to Americans. "There are two unpleasant alternatives: either Mr Bush knew he was not telling the truth, or he has a capacity for politically motivated self-deception that is terrifying in the post-9/11 world," concluded The Times. -AFP