Former US Vice-President Al Gore has said that he still believes he was the rightful winner of the bitterly contested 2000 election.

Winner: George W Bush

In his first interview since the election, Mr Gore, who ran for president for the Democrats against Republican George W Bush, told the Washington Post newspaper that his loss had been a "crushing disappointment".

"I believe that if everyone in Florida who tried to vote had had his or her vote counted properly, that I would have won," he said, referring to the five weeks of recounts in Florida which were ultimately ended in a controversial Supreme Court decision.

He added that he had "strongly disagreed" with the Supreme Court and the way in which they interpreted and applied the law.

"But I respect the rule of law, so it is what it is," he said.

His wife, Tipper Gore, added that she still believed her husband had been the victor.

Standing again?

The 2000 election had been expected to be close, but few anticipated the five-week debacle that resulted after Americans went to the polls in November.

Weeks of recounts in Florida, marred by severe partisan fighting and allegations of vote-rigging and discrimination, were finally stopped by an equally close Supreme Court decision, where justices voted 5-4 to end the process.

Democrats alleged it was no coincidence that the presidency was decided in Florida - where Mr Bush's brother Jeb was recently re-elected governor - while Republicans accused Mr Gore of dragging out the process needlessly.

Mr Gore's comments come as he begins a long-awaited political re-emergence after two quiet years following his controversial defeat.

Although he did not answer questions regarding a possible bid for the White House in 2004, many political analysts expect him to run.

The Democrats suffered in the recent US mid-term elections and they appear to have no viable alternative candidate.