President Bush has rejected calls for a delay in next month's Iraqi elections, insisting that the vote was too important to put off even though violence and chaos still grip much of the country.
"It's time for the Iraqi citizens to go to the polls," Mr Bush said.
Mr Bush predicted Iraq elections would leave the world "amazed that a society has been transformed so quickly".
A number of Iraqi political parties have urged delay in balloting as scheduled for January 30th.
Last week Mr Bush said he hoped the January 30th balloting would not be postponed, even though 17 political parties in Iraq have urged the interim government to put it off for at least six months.
Those groups want security at polling places to be ensured. Yesterday, a Sunni political party official said his organization would push forward with that demand.
But Mr Bush said: "The elections should not be postponed".
"It's time for the Iraqi citizens to go to the polls and that's why we are very firm on the January 30th date."
Mr Bush's spokesman, Mr Scott McClellan, said elections are essential "to bringing about a stable and peaceful and democratic Iraq."