ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) - Church leaders yesterday joined the business community in calling for an inquiry into bribery allegations against the prime minister.

The Conference of Churches made the announcement a week after the island's chamber of commerce requested the government open an inquiry.

"To bring closure to this matter we suggest an inquiry be undertaken by Parliament," Conference of Churches chairman Canon C Leopold said.

The government was considering the chamber of commerce request and was leaning toward approving the inquiry, a senior official said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.

Government spokeswoman Nancy McGuire has said there would be an announcement on the matter in Parliament today. She declined to give further details.

Last week, Nigel John, president of the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, wrote to Mitchell proposing that "a panel of independent investigators be appointed" to look into the accusations.

Mitchell has vehemently denied allegations reported by the Miami-based newsletter OffshoreAlert in April that he accepted a US$500,000 payoff from a German-born man in exchange for giving him a trade minister position.

Mitchell has filed a criminal libel lawsuit against OffshoreAlert and publisher David Marchant. Marchant has said he stands by the story.

The government says former trade counselor Eric E Resteiner offered to cover travel expenses for Mitchell's delegation on a 2000 promotional and investment tour of Europe and Kuwait.

The man gave about US$15,000 for the trip without hope of personal benefit, the government says. The Caribbean country's government maintains such actions are common and proper.

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