RIYADH, Jan 13: Saudi Arabia has once again rejected reports that it is urging Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to step down and spare the region a US-led invasion.

Quoting a senior official, the ABC News said there was no foundation to reports of a visit to Baghdad by a top Saudi official to discuss the possibility of Saddam giving up power.

It is the second time in less than a month that Riyadh has denied counselling the Iraqi leader to resign, amid persistent reports the Iraqi strongman is under pressure from his Arab neighbours to go into exile.

Western reports have recently identified Arab and former Soviet states as possible havens for Saddam. Some reports have also mentioned the name of Saddam’s eldest son, Uday Hussein, as a likely successor.

The Philippines Foreign Secretary was also quoted here as saying that Arab ambassadors had told him that governments in the region were discussing an exile plan for Saddam.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says that President Saddam going into exile is fine by Washington.

“The first choice would be that Saddam Hussein would pick up and leave the country tonight, that would be nice for everybody,” he said.