"I take personal responsibility for everything I say, of course. Absolutely," Bush told reporters during a White House press conference.

Bush was responding to a reporter's question which asked if he accepted responsibility for the inaccuracy of the claim.

"I analysed a thorough body of intelligence -- good, solid, sound intelligence -- that led me to come to the conclusion that it was necessary to remove Saddam Hussein from power," Bush said.

He said the world had missed its chance to remove Saddam from power prior to the United States taking up this objective, and added that the United Nations had passed numerous resolutions acknowledging the threat posed by the former Iraqi leader.

The White House has been at the centre of a furore over the claim, since shown to be false, that Saddam sought to procure uranium for an alleged nuclear weapons programme from the West African country of Niger.

"I take responsibility for making decisions on war and peace," Bush added.

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