IRAQ STUDY FINDS DESIRE FOR ARMS, BUT NOT CAPACITY
New report by American weapons inspector Charles A Duelfer is said to conclude that Saddam Hussein's government had clear intent to produce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons if United Nations sanctions were lifted, but that there is no evidence that Iraq had begun any such program by time of American invasion of Iraq; government officials say most specific evidence of illicit weapons program has been uncovered in clandestine labs operated by Iraqi Intelligence Service, which could produce small quantities of lethal chemical and biological agents, probably for use in assassinations, not to inflict mass casualties; say Duelfer's report essentially reaffirms findings of interim review 11 months ago, but adds considerable detail on question of Iraq's intentions if UN penalties were weakened or lifted; Duelfer is top American weapons inspector in Iraq; final version of his report is expected to be made public in next several weeks; Republicans and Democrats are likely to seize on separate aspects of report in effort to score political points; Pres Bush will cite Duelfer's conclusion that Hussein sought to acquire illicit weapons; Sen Kerry will highlight report's conclusion that Iraq did not possess stockpiles of illicit weapons, which was Bush's major rationale for war; photo (M)