His comments were welcomed by the opposition, which has long been angered by the U.N. mediator's refusal to take a firm position on excluding a future role for Assad.

MSN: U.N. envoy says Assad can't be in Syrian transition

In his speech, DeLay ran through a litany of what he described as atrocities by the Iraqi leader, including the use of chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds, firing at U.S. aircraft in the no-fly zones, its refusal to allow weapons inspections by U.N. teams, and the persecution of religious leaders in southern Iraq.

CNN: DeLay endorses action against Saddam