It was absolutely clear to us that the United States is completely serious, committed and determined to bring about regime change in Iraq

Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein, INC

Six exiled opposition groups invited to the White House spent 30 minutes in a video conference with Mr Cheney, who is on holiday in Wyoming, and other senior US officials.

Speaking after the meeting, a spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress (INC) - an umbrella group of exiles - said Mr Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were already looking beyond Saddam's overthrow.

"[They said] they support a democratic regime in Iraq, that they would not support replacing one dictator with another," Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein of the INC told reporters in Washington after the talks.

"Their vision for Iraq was for a free Iraq that was democratic and liberalised," he said.

'Enemy'

Before the meeting, US President George W Bush emphasised his commitment to ousting Saddam Hussein, describing him as "an enemy until proven otherwise".

The US is determined to topple Saddam - but doubts are growing

At the same time, he denied there was any "imminent war plan" saying he had no timetable for regime change in Iraq.

Following the talks, Sharif Ali said the US had "made it quite clear that the 'how' and the 'when' have not been decided yet.

"It was absolutely clear to us that the United States is completely serious, committed and determined to bring about regime change in Iraq."

Correspondents say Mr Cheney's decision to address the Iraqis is a sign of the seriousness with which the Bush administration is now taking the opposition, which had previously been seen as divided and lacking credibility.

Public debate

Mr Bush has said he welcomes the public debate on a possible military campaign, which has seen the political establishment expressing growing doubts about the wisdom of an assault on Baghdad.

I presume that he [Saddam Hussein] still views us as an enemy

George Bush

"The consultation process is a positive part of really allowing people to fully understand our deep concerns about this man and his regime and his desires to have weapons of mass destruction," Mr Bush told reporters in Texas.

"I do believe what the American people understand is that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of leaders such as Saddam Hussein are very dangerous for ourselves," he said.

"They obviously desire weapons of mass destruction. I presume that he [Saddam Hussein] still views us as an enemy," he said.