"Saddam Hussein is a terrible dictator who aggressed his neighbours, and Israel during the first (1991) Gulf War, and gassed the Kurds," he told Israeli public television on the first day of a visit to the Jewish state.

"We hope his regime will collapse a soon as possible to avoid losses of innocent life," said Fischer, whose country refused to take part in the US-led war on Iraq over its alleged weapons of mass destruction.

"After the dispute, the situation will be normalised. Transatlantic relations are vital for the Europeans and the Americans," he said, referring to the split between Europe and Washington over the use of military force.

Fischer arrived earlier in the day to hold talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat which will centre on the Middle East peace process, notably the long-promised US-backed "roadmap," as well as the war on Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE