In an e-mail to The Oregonian, al-Buthi said "I was surprised, particularly because I am supposed to be a fugitive from the U.S. government!"

Al-Buthi said the U.S. embassy called Tuesday to confirm he was coming.

On Wednesday, after The Oregonian began questioning federal authorities in Washington, the embassy withdrew its invitation.

"Al-Buthi was sent an invitation by mistake. The invitation has been withdrawn," Dave Foley, spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told The Oregonian.