US President George W. Bush onSaturday vowed to defeat the insurgents in Iraq and hand over sovereignty to the country on June 30 as planned.

"As the June 30th for Iraqi sovereignty draws near, a small faction is attempting to derail Iraqi democracy and seize power. In some cities, Saddam supporters and terrorists have struck against coalition forces. In other areas, attacks were incited by a radical named Muqtada al-Sadr, who is wanted for the murder of arespected Shiite cleric," Bush said in a weekly radio address.

Bush said some people had suggested that the United States should respond to the recent attacks by delaying the handover of Iraqi sovereignty, but "this is precisely what our enemies want."

"They want to dictate the course of events in Iraq and to prevent the Iraqi people from having a true voice in their future.They want America and our coalition to falter in our commitments before a watching world. In these ambitions, the enemies of freedom will fail. Iraqi sovereignty will arrive on June 30th," Bush said.

Despite the escalating violence in Iraq and the rising casualties of the US-led coalition forces, Bush has vowed to stay course and transfer power to an Iraqi interim government on June 30.

Some critics have said that in the face of the spreading violence in Iraq, the transfer of power could mean a civil war forthe country.

More than 50 US and coalition soldiers and hundreds of Iraqis have been killed in battles in the past week.

Source: Xinhua