US expert ‘pressured on Iraq analysis’

A TOP US State Department expert on chemical and biological weapons told congressional investigators he had been pressured to change his analysis of intelligence on Iraq and other issues, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing unnamed congressional officials.

The expert, identified by the newspaper as Christian Westermann, reportedly told the House of Representatives Intelligence committee during private hearings last week that he had felt pressure from the administration of US President George W Bush to tailor his analyses to the administration's positions.

The committee was examining the administration's handling of reports that Iraq possessed banned weapons and supported terrorist groups.