Bush may face Contra inquiry

WASHINGTON (Reuter) - President George Bush will probably be questioned next month about the Iran-Contra affair by the independent counsel, Lawrence Walsh, the Washington Post reported yesterday.

The newspaper, quoting sources, said Mr Walsh planned to interview Mr Bush to close the investigation of the scandal but not to gather evidence for future indictments.

The deposition had been set for last July but was delayed to prevent the inquiry becoming an issue in the elections. It was to have focused on Mr Bush's memory of events detailed in the notes of cabinet members in the Reagan administration, including the former defense secretary, Caspar Weinberger.

The inquiry will be expanded to cover why Mr Bush did not turn over to prosecutors his personal notes discovered in December, the Post reported.