WASHINGTON. Nov 10: The United States should target Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to force Baghdad to resume cooperation with UN weapons inspectors, a former UN expert said Monday, reports AFP.

“Saddam is the sole person responsible for the Iraqi policy of non-compliance," former weapons inspector Scott Ritter said In an interview with CNN.

"The United States should be threatening him directly, that's the only way for a diplomatic solution to work, a diplomatic solution backed by the real threat of credible military force that can remove Saddam Hussein from power," he said.

Titter, who resigned in August from the UN special commission tasked with Iraqi disarmament accusing the United States and United Nations of weakness in dealing with Iraq, accused Washington of having a "reactive” strategy regarding Baghdad.

The former US Marine said that the US Definition of confrontation might involve firing cruise missiles at Iraq.

"But unless this military action hits at Saddam Hussein

himself, that's something that Saddam feels that he can weather, that's not true confrontation from the Iraqi definition." Ritter said.

Speaking on the same programme. US State Department spokesman James Rubin said that nothing could be further from the truth." when asked to respond to Ritter's statement about the reactive nature of US policy.

He stressed that Washington continued with its containment policy against Saddam, aimed at destroying as many weapons of mass destruction as possible, and "keeping the tightest sanctions regime in history ope."

"It may not be the most satisfying policy, but it’s a policy that serves our interests." Rubin said.

The spokesman added that Washington had stated "very clearly" that "if Saddam Hussein were to comply with Security Council resolutions, sanctions could be lifted we've also said we have our doubts as to whether he will do so."

. Rubin repeated that "all options are on the table, including the military option."