WASHINGTON, Dec 21: Stoking speculation of a coming war against Iraq, the White House announced on Friday night that US President George Bush had postponed indefinitely a trip to Africa scheduled for next month.

“President Bush will reschedule his January trip to Africa until later in the year due to a combination of domestic and international considerations,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said in a statement.

A senior US official said Bush needed to monitor the volatile standoff with Iraq and adjust his domestic agenda after the upheaval in the US Senate, where Mississippi lawmaker Trent Lott resigned his post as Republican leader on Friday.

Military experts have pointed to late next month or early February as a prime window for US-led military action to disarm Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

The White House said last week that Bush would travel to Africa from Jan 10 to 17, but only announced a stop in Mauritius. Nigerian authorities said Bush would stop there.

Other countries thought to be under discussion were Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa.—AFP