Washington rejects Iraqi weapons inspection invitation

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq made its second offer to open its weapons systems to the world, overtures guardedly welcomed by the United Nations but rejected by Washington as a ploy to avoid U.S. military strikes.

Iraqi parliamentary speaker Sadoun Hammadi on Monday invited U.S. lawmakers and experts of their choice to visit Iraq for three weeks to search sites or facilities where they suspect weapons of mass destruction are hidden.

Hammadi's invitation follows last week's offer from Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to let chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix visit Iraq for technical talks that could lead to inspections resuming.

Both offers have been dismissed by Washington. President Bush has warned Baghdad to comply with U.N. resolutions concerning weapons inspections or face unspecified consequences. U.S. officials say visits by lawmakers would not satisfy the president's demand for rigorous inspections in Iraq.

But U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters Monday that Blix could accept Baghdad's invitation if Saddam Hussein lets weapons inspectors return. The inspectors left Iraq in December 1998.

"We have very clear requirements, and if Iraq were to honor them, I think the invitation can be considered," said Annan.

A 1999 Security Council resolution requires U.N. weapons inspectors to visit Iraq and determine what questions Iraq must still answer about its chemical, biological, nuclear and missile programs.

Toppling Hussein is a U.S. policy goal, and Baghdad's invitations come amid speculation of a U.S. war against Iraq. However, Bush administration officials say, no decision has been made to strike Iraq to date.

The United States, which led the 1991 Gulf War coalition that ousted Iraqi forces from Kuwait, accuses Iraq of trying to rebuild its banned chemical, nuclear and biological weapons programs, and of supporting terrorism.

Iraq's latest invitation came in a letter addressed to U.S. House and Senate speakers and Congress members and delivered to diplomats who run the U.S. interests section in Baghdad, the official Iraqi News Agency reported.

The White House said the latest Iraqi offer was hardly worth commenting upon.

"Our position on inspections and disarmament is well-known," said Sean McCormack, a National Security Council spokesman.

Hammadi said his letter was prompted by recent U.S. lawmakers' remarks that they expect to be consulted before any decision to wage war on Iraq.

In Kuwait on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah advised the Iraqi leadership to back down.

About 10,000 Iraqis rallied Monday outside Baath Party headquarters to protest the threat of U.S. military action.