Bush says June 30 Iraq deadline firm, willing to add troops

2.00pm UPDATE - By STEVE HOLLAND

WASHINGTON - United States President George W Bush today ruled out delaying a handover of authority in Iraq and said he was willing to grant a Pentagon request for more troops to defend Iraq against what he called a "power grab by extremists".

At a rare White House news conference, Bush sought to answer rising public concerns over his Iraq policy by saying his plans for Iraq's transition were unshaken by rising violence before the planned June 30 handover of power to Iraqis.

"We have set a deadline of June 30. It is important that we meet that deadline. As a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation and neither does America," Bush said in his first prime time news conference since before the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.

General John Abizaid, commander of US forces in the region, said on Monday he had asked for two more brigades -- about 10,000 troops -- for Iraq.

"If that's what he wants, that's what he gets," Bush said.

Bush said the US military presence in Iraq would remain as long as needed after the handover to help ensure security.

About 130,000 US troops are serving in the 145,000-strong U.S-led coalition in Iraq.

Thousands of US soldiers are facing delayed departures as the Pentagon works to maintain the current elevated force level, which had been expected to drop to about 115,000.

Bush said most Iraqis still supported US goals for their country, despite recent violence that has been the worst since last year's toppling of Saddam Hussein.

"The violence we have seen is a power-grab by these extreme and ruthless elements. It's not a civil war. It's not a popular uprising. Most of Iraq is relatively stable. Most Iraqis by far reject violence and oppose dictatorship," the president said.

Bush also called on radical Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to disband his militia in Iraq following days of deadly clashes between militia fighters and US forces.

Bush also faced grilling at the news conference on his handling of US counter-terrorism efforts before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, as an independent commission on Tuesday continued its probe of the attacks with testimony from Attorney General John Ashcroft and others.

But the president focused on Iraq as he sought to quell concerns over the escalation of violence in Iraq, which could threaten his re-election effort.

A Newsweek poll on Saturday said 51 per cent of Americans disapproved of Bush's handling of Iraq, compared with 44 per cent who approved.

So far more than 670 US troops have died in the conflict. Between 4000 and 6000 Iraqi military have died and 8000-10,000 civilians have lost their lives.

Although Bush initially justified the war by saying it was necessary to rid Iraq of banned weapons, no such weapons have been found.

On Tuesday four unidentified bodies were found in Iraq and a State Department official said the four may be among seven US civilians missing since their fuel convoy was attacked west of Baghdad last week.

A wave of kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq has pressured the occupying coalition.

Bush's rival in the November election, Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, urged the president to seek more international support in Iraq and make the United Nations "a full partner" in the transition of power.

However, in a sign of how limited Bush's choices have become, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the violence would prevent the world body from establishing a big presence in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

The Bush administration has also been on the defensive over its counter-terror policies before Sept. 11, 2001. At hearings on Tuesday of a commission investigating the attacks, the panel levelled stinging criticism at the US Justice Department and FBI for failing to meet the growing threat of the al Qaeda militant network blamed for the attacks.

Additional reporting: Caren Bohan and Arshad Mohammed

- REUTERS

The President's speech
The President's press conference

Herald Feature: Iraq