The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has rejected claims that he learned of his government's decision to invade Iraq after Saudi Arabia had been informed.
The question was raised in a new book by Washington Post journalist, Bob Woodward, who had official White House access.
He suggested that Mr Powell was not party to the final decision to go to war.
The book also suggests that the Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar, was shown an invasion plan.
However, in a television interview last night, Mr Powell played down the briefing's significance.
