AP: Powell asserts there were links between al-Qaida and Iraq

Secretary of State Colin Powell says the Bush administration stands by its assertions that there were links between al-Qaida and Iraq.

Powell's comments come as the independent commission investigating the Nine-Eleven attacks reports it has found no evidence that the terrorist group had strong ties to Saddam Hussein.

In an interview on the al-Jazeera television network, Powell says "it is clear" that there is a connection and the administration will "stick with that."

But the commission's report asserts "no credible evidence" has emerged that Iraq was involved in the Nine-Eleven strikes.

Powell tells al-Jazeera the administration hasn't said the connections between al-Qaida and Iraq were related to Nine-Eleven.

Why go to all this trouble and not include a single direct quote?