Colin Powell No plans to use force
However, in a television interview, Mr Powell said the United States was positioning itself for whatever might be required.
Saudi Arabia said earlier that it would allow the United States to use its military facilities in the event of war with Iraq.
The news came as UN arms experts, now in their 30th day of searching for alleged weapons of mass destruction, were poring over a list of 500 Iraqi scientists associated with Baghdad's arms programs.
The New York Times reported that Saudi Arabia had told US military officials the kingdom would make its airspace, air bases and an important operations center available to the United States in the event of war.
Saudi Arabia was the main staging area for US forces in the 1991 Gulf war.
