US President George W Bush on Thursday accused Iraq of engaging in a 'willful charade' by hiding weapons of mass destruction.

"I believe [Iraqi President] Saddam Hussein is a threat to the American people. I believe he's a threat to the neighbourhood in which he lives," Bush said in his primetime news conference.

"The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, show what the enemies of America did with four airplanes. We will not wait to see what terrorists or terrorist states could do with weapons of mass destruction," he said.

Asked about giving Iraq an ultimatum, Bush said: "We're still in the final stages of diplomacy."

He noted that chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix would report to the Security Council on Friday.

"The world needs him to answer a single question: Has the Iraqi regime fully and unconditionally disarmed as required by resolution 1441? Or has it not?"