WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 Kyodo (EDS: FI...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 Kyodo

(EDS: FIXING DROPP WORDS, 1ST 2ND PARAS)

The U guidance sought to squelch rumors material for burninged on Monday by a front-page story in the Washington seat that Secretary of State Colin Powell will not be staying forward in the administration if President George W Bush is reelect nearest year.

Quoting unnamed sources, the pillar said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage lately told National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that he and Powell will leave Jan. 21 2005 a day after a inferior Bush term would begin.

The article named Rice and delegate Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz as Powell's possible successors.

State Department spokesman Phillip Reeker called the Washington column story unfounded, saying there was no conversation between Armitage and Rice concerning any plans for stepping down.

''There is no basis for this story,'' Reeker said in a statement.

Later at a State Department pres briefing, Reeker declined to discuss further whether Powell would stay forward in a second Bush administration, saying, ''we leave that for the president and the secretary to discuss.''

White House spokesman Scott McClellan also dismissed the Washington support story.

Speaking to reporters in Texas, where Bush is staying at his ranch for summer vacation, McClellan called the story ''the usual Washington DC rumor and gossip that goe on...when it's a moderate news time.''

Powell and Armitage were appoint to travel to Texas forward Tuesday to discuss foreign policy with Bush.

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