Offaly Anti-War Movement

"They had a system of administration that will deliver," the defence secretary told The Observer.

And many were "perfectly decent people who have not participated in any atrocities".

There has already been anger in the southern city of Basra after the man chosen by the British forces there to run the city was revealed to be a Baath Party member.

Mr Hoon told the newspaper: "It is understandable people that have lived in dread and terror of this organisation should go and kick in a few doors."

But he added: "We have to ensure it does not get out of hand."

Mr Hoon also told the paper the former president was still in Iraq and would be found.

Jack Straw is flying to Bahrain on Sunday as he embarks on a tour of Gulf states to discuss the reconstruction of Iraq.

The foreign secretary will visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where he will meet US interim administrator for Iraq, Jay Garner.

Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien will travel to Syria and Iran, who fear they could become American targets in future.

Mr Straw and Mr O'Brien will discuss a "range of bilateral issues, as well as Iraq", according to the Foreign Office.

On Thursday Mr Straw warned Syria "to end any and all assistance to the Iraqi regime and to co-operate fully with the people of Iraq and with the coalition forces".

He urged Syrians to "make a decisive break with the past and so contribute to a better future for the entire region".

US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has accused Syria of secretly shipping military aid to Iraq and helping senior Iraqi leaders flee.

Restore normality

Meanwhile, Jacques Chirac has telephoned Tony Blair to say that only the UN can effectively restore normality to Iraq.

According to the French president's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna, he told the prime minister: "The political, administrative, economic and social reconstruction of Iraq can only be done by the United Nations, which has the legitimacy and experience necessary for the task.

"This is particularly true for the putting in place of an Iraqi government."

Downing Street said the two leaders discussed Iraq and other international issues for half an hour after President Chirac rang to brief Mr Blair on his discussions with fellow anti-war leaders, German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian president Vladimir Putin, in St Petersburg, Russia.

Mr Blair had reportedly refused an invitation to attend.

Mr Blair and US President George Bush agreed in Belfast this week that the UN should have a "vital role" in the reconstruction of Iraq.

President Bush said it might be invited to "suggest" members of the planned interim Iraqi authority.