Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul Tuesday denied a report that he had offered safe haven to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein if he stepped down to prevent a U.S.-led war. \"No, no,\" Gul responded when reporters asked him about the report in the mass-circulation daily Milliyet, which said he had made the offer to Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan during a secret visit by Ramadan to Ankara earlier this month. Fikret Bila, a columnist with good government connections, wrote that the offer was part of Turkish efforts to avoid a war it fears could destabilize the region and damage its own fragile economy. \"Step down to prevent a war, for the future of the Iraqi people. If you take this decision Turkey is ready to make you its guest and provide for your security. Such a step would prevent a war,\" Bila quoted the Turkish offer to the Iraqi leader as saying. He said Iraq had given no answer. NATO member Turkey is reluctantly gearing up for a war in neighboring Iraq but has tried to lead efforts to avert conflict, hosting a meeting of regional leaders last month. It has been cautious in moves toward allowing U.S. access to Turkish bases to prepare for a war. A final parliamentary vote is expected next week. (Reuters)