Saddam Hussein told Tony Benn that Iraq does not possess weapons of mass destruction and has no links with the al Qaeda terrorist network.

In an interview with the Labour left-winger, broadcast on British television last night, the Iraqi leader said that his country did not want to "push things to confrontation" with UN weapons inspectors.

When asked about American claims that his regime has links with Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, Saddam said: "If we had a relationship with al Qaeda and we believed in that relationship we wouldn't be ashamed to admit it. We have no relationship with al Qaeda."

Benn failed to ask any questions about Saddam's record on human rights.