With the possibility of a war with Iraq looming large, BBC World will broadcast Bush Vs. Saddam on BBC Panorama.

The show is slated to be a studio debate with panels of 12 people in New York and Amman. The panels will include members of the public, experts and politicians, states a press release.

The programme airs on 8 march at 6:40 pm , with a repeat telecast on 9 March at 3:40 am, 2:40 pm and 11:40 pm respectively.

According to the release, the show which aims at linking up audiences in London, America and the Middle East will debate on "how to tackle Saddam, and the consequences of getting it wrong".

Interestingly, a poll carried out for the BBC reveals that more than 40 per cent of Americans believe Saddam Hussein should be removed from power only with a unanimous United Nations mandate.

43 per cent people said their biggest fear about a war with Iraq
was further acts of terrorism. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) feared mass civilian casualties in Iraq, 14 per cent were concerned about an economic recession and 13 per cent were worried about a continuing US presence in the Middle East after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The survey further reveals that although 44 per cent people felt there should be a unanimous UN mandate in place before efforts are made to remove Saddam Hussein from power, 31 per cent agreed that he should be removed by a military coalition without UN support. Fifteen per cent felt the Iraqi people should remove their leader.

A majority of respondents (58 per cent) felt the United Nations
represented an institution with the power to change compared to 32 per cent who believed the UN is only a forum for debate and discussion. Eighty-seven per cent of people who took part in the survey felt Iraq would be better off without Saddam Hussein as leader.

People were divided over the main reason why the United States might go to war with Iraq. 33per cent felt it was to eliminate Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and 28 per cent said it was to prevent further acts of terrorism like September 11. Fifteen per cent felt the main reason for war was to secure oil supplies and 15 per cent believed it was to remove Saddam Hussein from power.

Interestingly, the NOP World survey on behalf of Panorama also reveals that a vast majority of Americans (64 per cent) believe that George Bush has shown greater leadership than Tony Blair or Jacques Church.