"We don't believe that the United Nations is equipped to play that central role," Cheney said in a speech delivered in New Orleans, Louisiana, adding that the United Nations should play an "important" and "prominent" role.

"They'll play a very important role, but I think the central role needs to still reside with the coalition until such time as we can pass it to the Iraqi people themselves, and hopefully that process will begin within a matter of days," he said.

"I think the UN has a prominent role to play," Cheney added, stressing UN expertise in matters such as refugee assistance, coordination of the work of non-governmental organizations and charities "that are very valuable in this kind of setting."

After a summit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair this week in Belfast, US President George W. Bush said the "support and expertise of the international community" would be needed to rebuild Iraq.

"We're committed to working with international institutions, including the United Nations, which will have a vital role to play in this task," Bush said.

SPACE.WIRE