Washington - US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell yesterday rejected the suggestion that policy discrepencies existed between him and President George W. Bush, but acknowledged differences of opinion with Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld.
"There is no gap" with Mr Bush, Mr Powell told NBC's Meet The Press. "I'm carrying out his foreign policy, not Colin Powell's." US media reports have focused on possible tensions between Mr Powell - who is considered a political moderate - and the more conservative wing of the Bush administration, including Mr Rumsfeld. Mr Powell did acknowledge he had "differences of perspectives and views from time to time" with Mr Rumsfeld. Mr Rumsfeld favoured withdrawing US troops from Bosnia, but in April Mr Powell said the US administration intended to remain engaged in the Balkans.