New York: Warning United Nations against becoming "an empty debating society" on the lines of the League of Nations, US President George W Bush said that if the world body fails in ridding Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction, US will do the job by itself.

"We don't want you (United Nations) to be the League of Nations, an empty debating society," Bush said on October 31 while campaigning for the Republican candidates for the November 5 elections, adding he wanted the world body to succeed and be effective.

"If the United Nations is incapable of disarming Saddam Hussein, and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, then the United States, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, will lead a coalition of nations and disarm Saddam Hussein," he told an election meeting amidst cheers.

But it is for the United Nations to make a choice, Bush said.

Saddam posed a "true" threat to America and its friends and allies. For 11 years, Hussein had "deceived" the world and defied the United Nations 16 times when the world body asked to disarm as he had promised, he said.

Not only did Saddam use weapons of mass destruction in his neighbourhood but he is a man who hates America and its friends, Bush asserted.

He said he had approached the United Nations as he wanted the world body to be effective at a time when the world was facing new threats to freedom.

Nobody likes wars but then the choice lies with Saddam, Bush said, asking him to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction for the "sake of peace".

PTI