The US-led war against Iraq has served to increase terrorism incidents and nothing indicates that the world is safer with the removal of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, French President Jacques Chirac told the BBC in aninterview to be broadcast Wednesday night.

"There is no doubt that there has been an increase in terrorismand one of the origins of that has been the situation in Iraq...I am not at all sure that one can say that the world is safer," Chirac told the BBC.

"To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing," Chirac said. "But it also provoked reactions... which has made the world more dangerous."

During the interview to be aired on the BBC's Newsnight program,Chirac also maintained that any intervention in Iraq should have been through the United Nations.

Chirac, due to arrive in London Thursday for a two-day visit tomark the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between France and Britain, earlier said he believes Britain's support for the Iraq war has brought few dividends.

Speaking to British journalists, Chirac said: "I'm not sure itis in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favors systematically. I am not sure, with America as it is these days, that it would be easy for someone, even the British, to be an honest broker."

During his stay in London, Chirac will meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and enjoy the hospitality of British Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

Source: Xinhua