London ? A London newspaper reported Saturday that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had made secret plans for his family and leading members of his regime to be given political asylum in Libya in the event of a war with the United States.

Quoting unnamed diplomatic sources in Tripoli, The Times said Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi had accepted a deal from Saddam to pay $3.5 billion into Libyan banks in return for the safe haven.

Libyan Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassouna al-Shawish denied such a deal was made.