The United States rejected yesterday the idea of a debate between US President George W. Bush and his Iranian counterpart Mahmud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations later this month.

"There's not going to be a steel-cage grudge match between the president and Ahmadinejad," White House spokesman Tony Snow said at a briefing.

"The president will deliver his speech, and at some other juncture, President Ahmadinejad, if the General Assembly so decides, will speak. This is not going to be a UN version of ' Crossfire,'" Snow said.

Bush will address the UN General Assembly on Sept. 19 and Ahmadinejad is also expected to attend the UN General Assembly.

Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that he was willing to hold a debate with Bush at the UN General Assembly in mid-September in New York.

"We hope to take our forthcoming visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to hold a debate without any censorship," he said. "This will allow the people, especially the Americans, to watch and hear the debate."