UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the world is not safer than it was a few years ago.

However, he did not comment on whether America is more secure, which has become an issue in the US presidential campaign.

President George W. Bush has said repeatedly that invading Iraq made America safer. His Democratic challenger Senator John Kerry dismissed the claim.

Annan was asked at a news conference whether he would say the world is safer than it was two or three years ago, given the recent violence in many countries.

He answered that the world is not safer today than it was two or three years ago.

Earlier Bush said his re-election will ensure safety for Americans as well as for those in the rest of the world in the war against terrorism.

Source: CRIENGLISH