WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle accused President Bush yesterday of playing politics with the debate over war in Iraq, and demanded the commander in chief "apologize to the American people."

"We ought not politicize this war," Daschle (D-S.D.) said in blunt remarks on the Senate floor less than six weeks before the midterm elections. "We ought not politicize the rhetoric about war and life and death."

No apology was forthcoming at the White House, where spokesman Ari Fleischer said Daschle's attacks misstated comments Bush made earlier this week.

At the same time, the spokesman declined numerous times to say whether Bush stood by his remark that the Senate - controlled by Democrats - was "not interested in the security of the American people." And Fleischer said Bush believes that if the Senate does not pass legislation to create a new Department of Homeland Security, "the security of our country will not have been protected."

Ironically, Daschle leveled his charge at the same time Democratic congressional aides were closeted with administration officials, seeking a compromise on legislation that would authorize Bush to use force to eliminate Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Several sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in the negotiations, the White House had signaled a willingness to delete language from its initial draft that permitted the use force to "restore international peace and security in the region." Some Democrats have objected to the provision, saying it grants Bush authority that goes far beyond Iraq.

Additionally, these sources said the negotiations focused on whether and when Bush would be required to report to Congress on the situation in Iraq, or about his efforts to gain United Nations backing for military action.

On a third point, these officials said there was discussion about a commitment, suggested by Democrats, that would make clear that any military action in Iraq would not come at the expense of the overall war against terrorism.

The House and Senate both are expected to vote on Iraq legislation before adjourning for the elections. Approval is expected in both houses, although House Democrats say the size of Bush's victory will depend, in part, on the administration's willingness to address Democratic concerns in the private negotiations. At the same time the White House sought to rebut Daschle's accusations, the president's national security adviser accused Saddam Hussein's government of sheltering members of the al-Qaida terrorist network in Baghdad and helping Osama bin Laden's operatives.