SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZA RICE ASKED HER RUSSIAN COUNTERPART TODAY TO CONDUCT A 'SERIOUS INVESTIGATION' INTO REPORTS THAT RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE PROVIDED SADDAM HUSSEIN WITH U.S. BATTLE PLANS, ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ADAM ERELI TOLD REPORTERS TODAY IN WASHINGTON THAT RICE MADE A TELEPHONE CALL TO RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV, IN WHICH SHE REQUESTED THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT CONDUCT THE PROBE. LAST WEEK THE PENTAGON RELEASED A REPORT CITING CAPTURED IRAQI DOCUMENTS THAT REVEALED THAT RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE HAD PROVIDED HUSSEIN WITH VARIOUS U.S. BATTLE PLANS. 'THE POINT WE'RE MAKING IS, THIS IS A REPORT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY AND WE ARE ASKING THE RUSSIANS TO LOOK INTO IT,' ERELI SAID. DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD, MEANWHILE, TOLD REPORTERS AT THE PENTAGON THAT THE REPORT 'MERITS LOOKING INTO,' BUT SAID HE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS WHEN THE PENTAGON RELEASED THE PUBLICATION LAST FRIDAY. GENERAL PETER PACE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, ALONGSIDE RUMSFELD, SAID THAT U.S. OFFICIALS 'STILL DON'T KNOW IF THE TRANSLATION IS 100 PERCENT ACCURATE' OR IF THE REPORT CONTAINED 'REAL INFORMATION OR DISINFORMATION.'
