"The way to avoid war and to secure peace is to allow UN inspectors into Iraq," Congresman Nick Rahall, a Democratic representative from West Virginia, told the assembly.

"The matter is urgent, and I therefore urge your government to implement all relevant Security Council resolutions without delay," he said.

The US delegation has been in Iraq since Friday. Their visit, described by participants as a humanitarian mission, comes as US President George W. Bush is seeking formal authorization from Congress to launch a large-scale military attack on Iraq.

Bush pressed forward with calls for action against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime, saying it is secretly producing weapons of mass destruction, and is in violation of 16 UN Security Council resolutions.

"Our delegation does not want to see a new war in Iraq. I will encourage my colleagues in the Congress to enter into dialogue with the Iraq National Assembly for the future benefit of both our nations," Rahall said.

The US Congress is expected to debate the situation in Iraq next week.

Iraq and the United States have had no official relations since Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and Rahall is one of only a handful of US Congressmen to visit Iraq since before the Gulf War.

Norman Solomon, head of the Institute for Public Accuracy, who is accompanying Rahall the delegation in Iraq, said the feeling in Baghdad was a gloomy assumption that war with the United States was inevitable.

"Iraqi government officials feel that the US policy is to shove them up against the wall. In a sense the United States has already made clear its desire to go to war," said Solomon, in a telephone interview from Baghdad.

"As an American here, I can say it's a very grim ambiance," Rahall and his group also brainstormed with Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz for two hours on ways to avert war.

"Aziz felt that Baghdad was doomed if they do, doomed if they don't," Solomon added.

"If they allow unfettered inspections it won't change US determination to see if a regime change any more than if they don't allow inspections," he said.

jns-jlp/sg

Nampa-AFP WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 160400)

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