Iraq's speaker of parliament invited the U.S. Congress Monday to send a mission of congressmen and arms experts to Baghdad to investigate American allegations that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction.

Speaker Saadoun Hammadi, in a letter to Congress, extended the invitation for a delegation "comprising whatever number of congressmen you see fit, accompanied by experts in the fields you deem relevant to the purpose of the visit, i.e. chemical, biological and nuclear."

The letter said the delegation would be given "every facility needed to search and inspect any plants and installations allegedly producing, or intended to produce, chemical, biological or nuclear weapons."

Saadoun delivered the letter to the Polish ambassador in Baghdad. The Polish embassy is in charge of U.S. interests in Iraq.
AUSTRALIA BACKS PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AGAISNT IRAQ

Threats of a military attack on Iraq are aimed at increasing pressure on Baghdad to allow UN weapons inspectors back in, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

Downer, who has backed a US pre-emptive military strike aimed at toppling President Saddam Hussein's regime, said the strong rhetoric was intended to avert a catastrophe in the Middle East.

"A lot of the strong talk at the moment is designed to put maximum pressure on Iraq to get them to allow in United Nations inspectors, to comply with UN Security Council resolutions and to disband weapons of mass destruction," he told commercial radio.

"If that can be done without a war then that's going to be an excellent outcome."

Prime Minister John Howard meanwhile promised a thorough parliamentary debate before committing Australia to any US-led military operation in Iraq.

He said Australia had not yet received any request from the United States to provide military or other assistance.

PHOTO CAPTION

Demonstrators Tim Sullivan, of Rockport, Maine, third from right, Karolina Bodner, of Barrington, N.H., second from right, and Tahir Mahdi, of Scarborough, Maine, right, wave at passing cars in Scarborough, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, while displaying signs calling attention to issues relating to a possible war with Iraq. (AP Photo/StevenSenne)