The Iraq war has done little to increase security across the world or halt the activities of international terrorists, United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said on Sunday.
Annan said in a British television interview that the international community now had a lot to do to improve security.
"I cannot not say the world is safer when you consider the violence around us, when you look around you and see the terrorist attacks around the world and you see what is going on in Iraq," he told the Dimbleby programme on ITV television.
"We have a lot of work to do as an international community to try and make the world safer."
A transcript of Annan's interview, due to be broadcast later on Sunday, was made available to media.
Annan also dismissed suggestions that France, Russia and China had, before the recent Iraq war, been prepared to ease sanctions on Iraq in return for oil contracts.
Disputing claims made in the final report of the US-led Iraq Survey Group which suggested Saddam Hussein had manipulated the UN's oil-for-food programme in an attempt to win Security Council support for lifting sanctions, Annan said it was "inconceivable" the three countries were influenced.
"I don't think the Russian or the French or the Chinese government would allow itself to be bought because some of his companies are getting relative contracts of the Iraqi authorities. I don't believe that at all," he said.
"It's inconceivable. These are very serious and important governments. You are not dealing with banana republics."
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