RNC criticizes Kerry for Iraq war claims

A Republican National Committee spokeswoman criticized Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry yesterday for suggesting that Bush administration officials were so determined to go to war in Iraq last spring that they rebuffed a last-minute overture by French and Russian officials to seek a compromise.

Kerry disclosed this week that, three days before the US-led war began March 19, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told him that US officials had declared that "the time for diplomacy is over." Kerry also said he had received information "from the highest authority" that French and Russian opponents of the war were willing to make "a further offer" to American officials over Iraq's future, but were rebuffed. Kerry has refused to specify details about the offer or the sources of his information beyond Annan.

Two administration officials and a member of President Bush's reelection team questioned Kerry's facts yesterday, but they referred inquiries to the RNC, where a spokeswoman said Kerry was misleading the public.

"If Senator Kerry has information, he should come forth with it now, and if he does not, it's irresponsible for him to speak before he knows the facts," RNC spokeswoman Heather Layman said.

Kerry was campaigning in Iowa yesterday and not available for comment, a spokeswoman said. "John Kerry stands by his version of events but he is not at liberty at this point to discuss further details of private conversations," Kerry spokeswoman Kelley Benander said in a prepared statement. She added that "John Kerry doesn't need any lessons in truth telling from an administration that has consistently misled the American people on matters of national security."

Kerry said Tuesday that he would talk more about the matter "at a later time."

On March 16, the day Kerry says he spoke with Annan, Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain met at an Azores Islands summit and signaled that the only option short of war was for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq because his government had failed to comply with past UN resolutions to disarm.

Patrick Healy can be reached by e-mail at phealy@globe.com.