Bush says "frustrated" with UN over Darfur crisis

WASHINGTON, Sep 15 (Reuters) Striking a sour note days before addressing the United Nations, President George W Bush today voiced frustration with the world body and scolded it for its handling of the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.

Bush, who bypassed the United Nations when he launched a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and at times has taken a go-it-alone approach in international affairs, said the world body had not acted sufficiently in the face of what he called ''genocide'' in Darfur.

''I think a lot of Americans are frustrated with the United Nations, to be frank with you,'' Bush told a White House news conference. ''I'm frustrated with the United Nations in regards to Darfur.'' Reiterating a common theme in his administration's dealings with the United Nations, he also chided it for how it manages funds from the United States, the organization's largest financial backer.

''The United Nations can do a better job spending ... our taxpayers' money,'' Bush said. ''I think there needs to be better management structures in place, better accountability in the organization.'' Bush, who will address the 192-member U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, launched into his criticism after a reporter asked about his administration's relations with the United Nations and his relationship with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has sometimes criticized U.S. policies.

''I like him. We've got a good personal relationship,'' Bush said.

U.N. FORCE TO SAVE LIVES But he urged more robust U.N. action in Darfur, where the United Nations has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur if the violence does not stop.

The president said the United Nations should send a message to the Sudan government that ''we're coming in with a U.N. force in order to save lives.'' The conflict erupted in February 2003 when non-Arab villagers took up arms because of lack of resources. The government then mobilized Arab militias, which have conducted a campaign of murder, rape and looting.

Fighting, disease and hunger have killed some 200,000 people and driven some 2.5 million into squalid camps.

The African Union has some 7,000 troops in Darfur but is running out of manpower, finances and equipment. Its mandate expires on September 30.

Despite international pressure, Khartoum has rejected a UN Security Council resolution passed last month to deploy more than 20,000 UN peacekeeping troops and police to the region.

''I can understand the desperation people feel for women being pulled out of these refugees centers and raped. And now is the time for the UN to act,'' Bush said.

Reuters PDS VP0047