Chalabi willing to testify before Senate over misleading Iraq war

Chalabi willing to testify before Senate over misleading Iraq war

POL-LD US-IRAQ-CHALABI Chalabi willing to testify before Senate over misleading Iraq war information WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi said on Wednesday he was willing to testify before the US Senate to prove that all charges being reported against him that he provided misleading intelligence information to the US that led to Iraq war were "false". Chalabai, who was once a close confidant to the Bush Administration, was later accused by top US officials for providing wrong information about Saddam Husseins weapons of mass destruction as well as charges that he passed sensitive information to Iran that could be a threat to the US national interest. Speaking at a news conference at the Pro-republican and conservative "American Enterprise Institute", Chalabi, on a week long official visit, vehemently denied the two charges, and said that he is ready to stand at the US Congress to prove that all charges were "baseless". "I deny such charges and I clearly say I didnt pass any information to Iran relating to US national interest. "I offered in May 2004 that I am ready to go to the Senate to respond to Question and I now repeat that I am ready to visit the Senate for that purpose, " he said, Chalabi, in an effort to improve his recently-unwelcoming image in Washington, said that his relationship with the Bush Administration is now "friendly, developing and growing". Chalabi, who was recently considered by the US Administration as a persona-non-grata, met earlier today with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The US government defended Rice's agreement to meet with Chalabi, saying that Chalabi now serves as a government official and it remains of high interest for the United States and the future of Iraq to hold meetings with Iraqi government officials. This is Chalabi's first meeting with a US official during the week-long visit that would include meetings with a number of top officials including Energy Secretary Samuel Boldman and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfled. "I think in view of the fact that Chalabi does have portfolio for energy and finance issues, the bulk of the conversation focused on Chalabi's visit is seen as an attempt by the moderate Shiite figure to re-position himself to run for the Prime Minister's office in the December elections. Chalabi stopped shortly of either confirming or denying that he was planning to run for the Prime Ministers office in the December elecetion. (pick up previous) sa. ajs KUNA 100051 Nov 05NNNN