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in this section   Abuse victim: 'I have to go public' Man drops anonymity after 'lying' claim from convicted paedophile By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor Agent to hit out by naming top IRA mole Former soldier makes threat after MoD backtracks on pay-off deal By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor Allies carve up Iraq but sideline UN By James Cusick, Westminster Editor An Islamic state doesn't have to be Bush's nightmare Iraq: Denying Shia muslims the right to achieve their aims through the ballot box will only stoke the fires of militancy, warns Yasir Suleiman Badger baiting returns as gangs destroy several setts By Rob Edwards, Environment Editor Blair: 'my conscience is clear over deaths in Iraq' By James Hamilton Borrowing from Iris Alan Taylor's Diary Branson plans Concorde cheap seats DTI will consider Virgin boss's plan to take over running of supersonic plane ... but he'd still face a huge legal battle By Kenny Kemp, Business Editor Carnage obscures fast track to peace Iraq: Robert Tait in Jerusalem charts the obstacles that appear to be looming larger in the wake of renewed violence across the Middle East following the publication of the Bush 'road map' Do you live near a dump? It's just devalued your house by over 40% Government study finds Scotland hit worse than the rest of the UK by landfill sites By Rob Edwards, Environment Editor Dogs fail to bolster hedgehog cull By James Hamilton East Lothian on track to go to the dogs By Karin Goodwin Emergency food aid is not enough to stop Africa famine There's still time to make a difference... and enjoy a night of cracking entertainment into the bargain By Stephen Naysmith Famed greenhouse vine in TV rescue By Bridget Morris Fury at Israeli killing of UK cameraman By James Hamilton Greens: here are our demands Ambitious list includes end to M74 extension Preparations begin for new parliament By Rob Edwards, Environment Editor Heroin death girl's parents set for body to be exhumed By Bridget Morris Hopes fade in Turkish earthquake rescue bid From Mert Ozkan in Bingol, Turkey Hoteliers claim tourism has suffered under VisitScotland By Stephen Naysmith Kirk may ask for £2 a week from its flock Controversial direct debit subscription charge could raise £60m a year for struggling Church By Jenifer Johnston McConnell 'too busy' to negotiate with LibDems By Douglas Fraser, Alan Crawford and Torcuil Crichton Millionaire's haven for rent ... if you have £3500 and your own helicopter By Meg Milne Movie moguls in the making pitch in By Karin Goodwin Mutations make Sars harder to beat By Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Editor One in five doesn't know how they will afford to live after retirement By James Hamilton Pubs should open longer, says binge-drinking report By John Phelps Scottish Executive diet drive branded a cop-out by expert International adviser in attack on campaign that fails to tackle industry By Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Editor Six Britons held over suicide-bomb bar attack By Bridget Morris Straw under fire as bomb accused 'rot in Saudi jail' Families: Foreign Office consistently lied and failed to help By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor Swinney told: time to ditch independence Exclusive: Senior colleagues give SNP leader two years; others call for Salmond's return By Douglas Fraser, Political Editor US: 'Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction' By Neil Mackay Why conditions are right for yet more young 'martyrs' drawn from Britain's middle classes Iraq: By Imran Khan Why health checks may make you ill Trend for body scans puts healthy patients at risk from radiation and unnecessary operations, warn doctors By Sarah-Kate Templeton, Health Editor Why the US can't go it alone Iraq: Crisis in the Middle East: the fighting may have all but stopped in Iraq but America still has much to do to stop it descending into chaos, while its road map to peace has signalled more violence in Israel, writes Diplomatic Editor Trevor Royle

US: 'Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction'   By Neil Mackay   The Bush administration has admitted that Saddam Hussein probably had no weapons of mass destruction. Senior officials in the Bush administration have admitted that they would be 'amazed' if weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were found in Iraq. According to administration sources, Saddam shut down and destroyed large parts of his WMD programmes before the invasion of Iraq. Ironically, the claims came as US President George Bush yesterday repeatedly justified the war as necessary to remove Iraq's chemical and biological arms which posed a direct threat to America. Bush claimed: 'Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. We will find them.' The comments from within the administration will add further weight to attacks on the Blair government by Labour backbenchers that there is no 'smoking gun' and that the war against Iraq -- which centred on claims that Saddam was a risk to Britain, America and the Middle East because of unconventional weapons -- was unjustified. The senior US official added that America never expected to find a huge arsenal, arguing that the administration was more concerned about the ability of Saddam's scientists -- which he labelled the 'nuclear mujahidin' -- to develop WMDs when the crisis passed. This represents a clearly dramatic shift in the definition of the Bush doctrine's central tenet -- the pre-emptive strike. Previously, according to Washington, a pre-emptive war could be waged against a hostile country with WMDs in order to protect American security. Now, however, according to the US official, pre-emptive action is justified against a nation which simply has the ability to develop unconventional weapons. sundayessentials Why the US can't go it alone Trevor Royle on America's struggle to create peace An Islamic state doesn't have to be Bush's nightmare Yasir Suleiman on Iraq & democracy Voters didn't reject nationalism ... just the SNP Analysis from Professor John Curtice Swinney's Judgement Day Has Arrived Powerplay: Iain MacWhirter Thought things couldn't get any worse? Think again Michael Grant on Scotland's fading prospects   download our pdf guide to the election (1.1MB)

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