U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday in Australia urged Asia-Pacific nations to continue to deploy both military might and democratic ideals to turn the tide against extremists.

"Pressure keeps the terrorists on the run, and when on the run, we're safer," he said from Sydney on Friday morning local time. "We must be focused and we must not let up."

In the speech to business leaders, Bush prodded Russia and China to honour democratic principles and allow more freedoms. He also asked that the international community pressure the military government in Myanmar to stop its crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the Southeast Asian nation.

Bush added that North Koreans should share the same liberties that citizens of their democratic neighbours enjoy.

Bush spoke optimistically about the war in Iraq and urged other nations not to turn away.

"We're going to succeed in Iraq," he said.

Mistakenly calls APEC 'OPEC' in speech

Bush said nations across Asia should understand the importance of fighting terrorism, since they have so often been its victims.

Bush was about 15 minutes late starting his speech, as aides hustled audience members down from the balcony to fill the many empty seats below.

He started his remarks with a gaffe. In Sydney to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, a 21-nation group of Pacific Rim countries whose economies account for nearly half of all global trade, Bush first referred to the group as OPEC, the cartel of major oil producers. The audience remained quiet through his speech.

Earlier Thursday, Bush met with Chinese President Hu Jintao; on Friday, he was to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bush and Hu, leaders of two of the world's worst polluting nations, both on Thursday called for greater international co-operation in tackling climate change without stifling economic growth. Bush repeated that theme in his speech Friday, calling on Pacific Rim nations to lead the way toward a worldwide trade agreement.

'Make Doha a success'

"Our challenge is to strengthen the forces of freedom and prosperity in this region," Bush said.

He said the best way to open markets was to achieve a breakthrough in global trade negotiations known in the economic world as the Doha round.

"The United States is committed to seizing this opportunity, and we need partners in this region to help lead the effort," Bush said. "No single country can make Doha a success, but it is possible for a handful of countries that are unwilling to make the necessary contributions to bring Doha to a halt."

Bush also asked the Asia-Pacific leaders for their co-operation on climate change. He acknowledged the fears of some that the United States was trying to construct a successor to the Kyoto Protocol outside of international efforts already underway.