US rebuffs Iraqi offer to tour weapons sites

THE White House last night quickly shot down an Iraqi offer to let members of Congress tour suspected biological, chemical and nuclear weapons sites.

Iraq’s parliament speaker, Sadoun Hammadi, invited congressmen on a three-week visit, accompanied by arms experts of their choice, to sites in Iraq where they suspect weapons of mass destruction are hidden.

Bush administration officials said visits by members of Congress would not satisfy the president’s demand for rigorous inspections in Iraq.