WASHINGTON, Oct 4: US President George Bush on Saturday asked for time in working out a plan for Iraqi self-rule.

“The transition to self-government is a complicated process, because it takes time to build trust and hope after decades of oppression and fear,” Mr Bush said in his weekly radio address.

“Yet we are making steady progress, and we will keep our promise to fully return Iraq’s government to Iraq’s people as soon as possible,” he said.

President Bush also sought to allay concerns in the US Congress over his 87 billion dollars spending request for Iraq.

“Our coalition is helping to train and equip Iraq’s new army, so that Iraqis can take over border protection and other security duties as soon as possible,” he said.

Democrats on Saturday took the president to task for his proposals on Iraq’s rebuilding, saying too many resources are being drained from domestic needs.

“In a time when money is scarce, we should demand that President Bush place the needs of our own country first on the agenda,” Missouri Governor Bob Holden said in the Democrats’ weekly radio address.

“With record deficits, the worst economy in 70 years, and an administration likely to push even more tax cuts for the wealthy, this funding request raises important concerns about what we can afford to spend to rebuild Iraq,” he said.

With unease about the costs growing, the administration has been negotiating with members of the United Nations Security Council in hopes of securing a resolution that will encourage contributions from abroad of troops and cash.

DEBATE OVER TIMING: But debate over the transition to Iraqi sovereignty has raised serious obstacles to the effort.