WASHINGTON, Dec 20: The House of Representatives called on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Thursday to allow the unrestricted return of UN weapons inspectors, warning his continued refusal poses a mounting threat to the United States.

Amid widespread congressional sentiment to make Iraq a target in the US war on terrorism, lawmakers endorsed 392-12 a non-binding resolution that stressed the urgency of resuming UN monitoring of Baghdad’s weapons programme.

Supporters said in sometimes heated terms that Iraq must be forced to live up to the 1991 Gulf War ceasefire agreement and allow the return of weapons inspectors booted out of the country three years ago.

“Saddam Hussein has one last chance to do what he was obligated to do over a decade ago,” said Rep. Tom Lantos of California, ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee. “There is little time to lose before we will have no choice but to take much stronger measures.”

Many lawmakers focused directly on Saddam, urging President George W. Bush and the Pentagon to end his reign in Baghdad before he reconstitutes his programme to develop weapons of mass destruction.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that an Iraqi defector claims he worked on renovations of secret facilities for biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in underground wells, private villas and even under the Saddam Hussein Hospital in Baghdad.

“This is a man who must be dealt with, once and for all,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley, a New York Democrat.

The final resolution was toned down from an earlier version that declared any refusal to admit weapons inspectors by Baghdad to be an “act of aggression” against the United States.

Supporters said they did not want the resolution to be confused with an authorization for the use of military force against Iraq in the event that weapons inspectors remained barred from the country.

The final version says Iraq should allow the immediate return of UN weapons inspectors, and any refusal by Baghdad should be considered a “mounting threat to the United States, its allies, and international peace and security.”

Opponents questioned why Congress was pushing to create a confrontation with Iraq given the opposition of some US allies to military action against it and the lack of evidence linking Baghdad to the Sept 11 attacks.

“I hardly see it as a threat to our national security,” Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul said of Iraq. “This desire to immediately go into Iraq presents a threat to our security more than it helps.”

The House vote is the latest in a string of calls for a renewed concentration on Iraq once the military campaign in Afghanistan ends. Bush recently demanded that Saddam allow weapons inspections to resume, saying he would “find out” the consequences if he refused.

Ten leading members of Congress sent a letter to Bush recently urging him to make Iraq the next target in the US war on terrorism, saying it has reinvigorated its weapons programmes in the three years since UN inspectors left.

“As we work to clean up Afghanistan, it is imperative that we plan to eliminate the threat from Iraq,” said the letter, signed by Hyde, Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott, ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jesse Helms, former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain and former Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman among others.—Reuters