WASHINGTON, MARCH 28, SPA -- THE UNITED STATES IS PRESSING MOSCOW FOR AN EXPLANATION OF REPORTS THAT RUSSIA GAVE SADDAM HUSSEIN INTELLIGENCE ON U.S. TROOP MOVEMENTS DURING THE U.S.-LED 2003 INVASION OF IRAQ. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS DAN FRIED SPOKE TO RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES AND CONVEYED A REQUEST THAT MOSCOW LOOK INTO THE ALLEGATIONS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID MONDAY. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE ALSO PLANS TO RAISE THE ISSUE WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV ON THURSDAY IN BERLIN DURING INTERNATIONAL TALKS ON IRAN'S CONTROVERSIAL NUCLEAR PROGRAM. 'IF THAT'S THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER, THEN SHE WILL BRING IT UP THEN,' SPOKESMAN SEAN MCCORMACK SAID. 'IF NOT, IT WILL BE BEFORE THEN, IN A TELEPHONE CALL.' 'CLEARLY, AS THE SECRETARY STATED OVER THE WEEKEND, ANY HINT THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE IRAQIS MAY HAVE PUT OUR TROOPS IN (DANGER) WOULD BE VERY CONCERNING,' MCCORMACK TOLD REPORTERS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S COMMENTS CAME SHORTLY AFTER THE PENTAGON SAID IT WAS NOT INVESTIGATING WHETHER RUSSIA PROVIDED INTELLIGENCE TO IRAQ. ANGER TOWARD RUSSIA HAS STARTED TO FORM IN CONGRESS AFTER THE PENTAGON RELEASED A REPORT FRIDAY THAT CHARGED MOSCOW GAVE INTELLIGENCE TO SADDAM HUSSEIN. PAT ROBERTS (REPUBLICAN FROM KANSAS), CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, PLEDGED ON SUNDAY TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. SENATOR TED KENNEDY (DEMOCRAT FROM MASSACHUSETTS) SAID THE REPORTS, IF TRUE, WOULD WARRANT A REVIEW OF TIES WITH MOSCOW AND THE THREAT THAT THE UNITED STATES NOT ATTEND THE GROUP OF EIGHT INDUSTRIALIZED DEMOCRACIES SUMMIT IN JULY IN ST. PETERSBURG. --SPA 13 01 LOCAL TIME 10 01 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/349089