The former United States senator George Mitchell is to head an inquiry by the US Olympic Committee into bribery allegations surrounding Salt Lake City's successful bid for the winter games in two-thousand-and-two.

Senator Mitchell brokered the all-party peace accord in Northern Ireland earlier this year.

A five-strong panel will also investigate claims that relatives of International Olympic Committee members benefited from Salt Lake City funds.

The IOC and the city authorities announced their own inquiries when the allegations came to light earlier this month.

Senator Mitchell said he expects to present his report by the end of February.

He said any evidence of criminal wrong-doing would be turned over to prosecutors.