United States officials have said former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein may be playing a significant role in coordinating and directing attacks by his loyalists against US forces in the country.

Senior US officials, The New York Times said, cited intelligence reports indicating that Hussein is acting as a catalyst, even a leader, in the armed opposition, probably from a base near Tikrit, his hometown and stronghold.

A leadership role by Hussein would go far beyond anything previously acknowledged by the Bush administration, which has sought in its public remarks to portray the former leader as being on the run and irrelevant, the Times said.

Officials, the paper said, acknowledged that the reports of a significant role by Hussein could not be corroborated, and one senior official cautioned that recent intelligence reports contained conflicting assessments.

Nonetheless, three senior officials described reports of a larger role by Hussein as credible, and a defence department official said the information had given a fresh sense of urgency to the US-led manhunt for him.

Also see: Complete coverage of the Iraq war