WASHINGTON, July 9: US President George Bush vowed on Monday to use “all tools” at his disposal to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but declined to say whether that goal would be achieved by the end of his first term.

Speaking at a news briefing, he said the world would be a safer place once Saddam had been overthrown and said he was personally engaged in “all aspects” of planning to achieve that goal.

“It’s a stated policy of this government to have regime change. And it hasn’t changed. And we’ll use all tools at our disposal to do so,” Bush said.

But the US leader declined to answer the question of whether regime change in Iraq will be a reality before the end of his first term, in late January 2005, saying: “It’s hypothetical.”

The Bush administration has repeatedly threatened to topple Saddam’s government, which it accuses of developing weapons of mass destruction.

The New York Times said on Friday that a top secret US military document outlines a massive, three-pronged attack on Iraq by land, sea and air with as many as 250,000 troops and hundreds of warplanes.

Bush, clearly unhappy at the report, which he attributed to some low-level official “flexing some knowhow muscle”, said that people “shouldn’t speculate about the desire of the government to have a regime change”.

But he also indicated that there is no urgency to act and that while the military option is one of a number being considered, there are “different ways to do it”.

“But in my remarks to the American people, I remind them I’m a patient person,” he said.

“But I do firmly believe that the world will be safer and more peaceful if there’s a regime change in that government.” Bush highlighted his personal engagement in the planning for Saddam’s ouster. “I am involved. I mean, I’m involved in the military plan, diplomatic planning, financial planning — all aspects of — reviewing all the tools at my disposal,” he said.

EU SEEKS PROOF: European Union countries will not consider military intervention against Iraq until they see proof that Baghdad is producing weapons of mass destruction, Italian Defence Minister Antonio Martino said on Tuesday.