New York: With the United Nations Security Council sharply divided over the Iraq crisis, United States President George W Bush is likely to tell the world body that he was right to order invasion of Iraq without its explicit approval and would offer no concessions to French demands that major authority for running the country be turned over immediately to Iraqis.

"I will make it clear that I made the right decision (in invading Iraq) and the others that joined us made the right decision. The world is a better place without Saddam Hussein," Bush said in an interview to a television channel.

Officials involved in drafting his speech to the UN General Assembly on September 23 said the US President, in his 22-minute address, would also acknowledge no mistakes in planning for post-war security and reconstruction in Iraq and would repeat his call for nations – including those who opposed the Iraq action – to join in rebuilding the country.

He, however, would offer no concession to French demands that major authority for running the war- ravaged country be handed over immediately to Iraqis, the officials said.

"We will stay on the same schedule" of drafting a constitution and holding national elections in Iraq, a senior official was quoted as saying by 'New York Times' on September 22.

Bush, in his interview to 'Fox News', said he would define a larger role for the United Nations very narrowly. Asked if he was willing to give the UN more authority in order to obtain a new resolution, he said, "I am not so sure we have to, for starters."

PTI