BAGHDAD - 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.

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