Pre-war intelligence report released

The Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on intelligence leading up to the Iraq war. Based on information gathered before and after the war began, the committee found no evidence of ties between Saddam Hussein and terrorists like bin Laden and Zarqawi.

"Post-war findings indicate that Saddam Hussein was distrustful of al-Qa'ida and viewed Islamic extremists as a threat to his regime, refusing all requests from al-Qa'ida for material or operational support," it concluded.

The report confirmed that Zarqawi was in Baghdad between May and November 2002 - a fact much played up by Mr Cheney in the invasion's immediate aftermath - but said he was very far from welcome there. Instead, Saddam attempted, unsuccessfully, to track him down and capture him. Until the US invasion, Zarqawi was affiliated with Ansar al-Islam, a radical group in Kurdish-controlled territory in northern Iraq and unconnected to Saddam.

The full report is available on the committee's website.