"The people will wonder if Saddam Hussein is dead or not. There's some evidence that suggests he might be," said Bush. "We're trying to, of course, verify it before there's any declaration."

Bush said that the agent in Baghdad who pinpointed a compound where he believed the Iraqi leader was meeting with top aides "felt like we got Saddam" in the April 19 bombardment using US "stealth" aircraft and cruise missiles.

"The person that helped direct the attacks believes that Saddam at very minimum was severely wounded," the US leader told NBC television in his first exclusive interview since the war began.

A month later, with Saddam dead or on the run and US-led forces occupying Iraq, Bush said that the task of putting Iraqis in charge of their country may take two years: "It could. Or less. Who knows?"

"But the point we're making is that the foundation for democracy is now being laid," he said, downplaying surging anti-US sentiment at demonstrations in Iraq.

"There's nothing wrong with nationalism within Iraq," he said. "People say the United States should leave. And we want to leave, as soon as we've accomplished our mission."

SPACE.WIRE