In the US, it's confirmed, for many, the distrust of the Bush administration and is likely to be seized later on Friday by Democrat candidate, John Kerry, in the second presidential debate.

The report, prepared after 1,200 inspectors headed by American chief weapon inspector Charles Dolfer conducted an 18-month search campaign, says that Iraq had no biological, chemical or nuclear weapons before the US occupation of the oil-rich country.

It more or less overturns the US pretext for invading Iraq in March 2003. And it has ignited more anger among Iraqis who already harbor hatred toward the occupation forces, for the war, and for the ensuing chaos, destruction and bloodshed.

An Iraqi citizen said: "This comes as no surprise to us. As far as we are concerned the war was not about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq or with Saddam Hussein. Many countries in the area do have weapons of mass destruction. If the American administration knew that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, it would not have waged the war."

In the US people were not quite as angry but their responses, after reading the headline news on Thursday, were cynical.

An US citizen said: "It doesn't surprise me at all. I knew that Bush was lying to us from day one and that he never really thought that there were weapons of mass destruction and it was just a deception."

The report leaves little room for the Bush Administration to mount a defense for their assertions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Stephen Hess, Snr Fellow Emeritus of Governance Studies, Brookings Inst., said: "This is a devastating report for the government, leaves very little wiggle room for the president on the question of weapons of mass destruction, with the possible exception that if the UN sanctions had been lifted Saddam might have tried to restore his program."

US President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry will meet in a debate on Friday in St. Louis, where the report is expected to be a major bone of contention.

Source: CCTV com