Iraq must do more, says Annan

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he is still not ready to consider Iraq's offer of talks with weapons experts -- unless Iraq adheres to U.N. Security Council requirements on inspections.

He told reporters that technical talks with Baghdad could be considered by the United Nations if the Iraqi government honors existing council requirements, such as those regarding the return of inspectors and the resumption of inspections.

"We have very clear requirements and if Iraq were to honor them, I think an invitation could be considered," Annan told reporters Monday.

Iraq last week delivered a letter from Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix, welcoming talks with Blix and his experts.

Iraq wants to keep talking, but U.N. inspectors want to start the inspection process.

According to Blix, Annan said, he and his team would travel to Iraq and "spend about 60 days to determine what needs to be done, discuss with Iraq about procedures on how to do their work, then come back and report to the Security Council and then move on from there."

"This is what Iraq would have to look at," Annan said.

Annan, who said he will be discussing the Iraqi invitation with Security Council members Monday, said whether the Iraqi letter reflects a genuine change in attitude is "something that we will have to test."

Annan was to discuss how to formally react to the Iraqi offer at lunch Monday with the Security Council.

U.S. and British diplomats have ruled out any acceptance of the Iraqi bid, saying the inspectors should be let in first, and Iraq can't renegotiate U.N. resolutions.

Repeating his opposition to an attack on Iraq. Annan told journalists 'it would be unwise to attack Iraq, given the current circumstances of what's happening in the Middle East."

Iraq agreed to dispose of weapons of mass destruction as part of an agreement to end the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Weapons inspectors have not been in Iraq since December 1998, when they left in advance of U.S.-British bombing. They have not been allowed to return since.

Baghdad's offer comes as anti-President Saddam Hussein rhetoric grows in the United States, and Bush administration officials and Congress members discuss the feasibility of a military strike against Iraq.

Also Monday, the speaker of the Iraqi National Assembly invited members of Congress and their choice of experts to come to Iraq and look at sites where they believe weapons of mass destruction are being produced.

Sadoun Hammadi, the speaker of the assembly, sent a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate and members of Congress. The White House dismissed the invitation, reiterating its call for "action" by Iraq, not "discussion." (Full story)

-- U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth contributed to this report