United Nations, Sept 23: With United Nations sharply divided over Iraq, President George W Bush today asked the international community to support his plans for steady transition to democratic rule in Baghdad and appealed for unity to stop global terror. In his address to the United Nations General Assembly that opened today, he however, made it clear that United States would follow a timetable ``neither hurried nor delayed by the wishes of other parties.''

``This process must unfold according to the needs of Iraqis,'' Bush said in an apparent reference to divisions over demand of European powers that US transfer power from military occupation forces to the Iraqi people in a two-stage plan. ``So let us move forward,'' said Bush, who acknowledged differences did exist over Iraq. ``every young democracy needs the help of friends.''

Bush is meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee over lunch tomorrow when the issue of deployment of Indian troops in Iraq is expected to come up. Washington has been seeking troops which New Delhi says is possible only under UN supervision and after a political consensus is evolved in India.

On terrorism, bush said no government should ignore the threat of terrorists. "All nations should fight terror as if the lives of their own people are at risk. To look the other way gives terrorists a chance to regroup and recruit and prepare for more terror." Bureau Report