US President George W. Bush on Tuesday refused to set a timetable for US troops to withdraw from Iraq, vowing to remain in the course in the violence-stricken country.

In a speech at an army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Bush argued that Iraq has become the central front of the war on terrorism, and setting a timetable for US troops to withdraw would send a wrong signal to both the Iraqis and US troops.

"Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to the Iraqis, who need to know that America will not leave before the job is done. It would send the wrong signal to our troops, who need to know that we are serious about completing the mission they are risking their lives to achieve," Bush said.

His administration has rejected calls from US lawmakers, including some Republicans, to set a firm timetable to withdraw the 135,000 US troops from Iraq.

Meanwhile, Bush admitted in the address that the work in Iraq is difficult and dangerous.

"Our mission in Iraq is clear. We are hunting down the terrorists. We are helping Iraqis build a free nation that is an ally in the war on terror ... We are removing a source of violence and instability and laying the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren," Bush said.

The president announced three new steps to help Iraq fight insurgents.

"First, we are partnering coalition units with Iraqi units. These coalition-Iraq teams are conducting operations together in the field," he said.

"Second, we are embedding coalition transition teams inside Iraqi units," Bush said, adding that these coalition officers will live, work and fight together with Iraqis.

"Third, we are working with the Iraqi Ministries of Interior and Defense to improve their capabilities to coordinate anti- terrorist operations," he said.

Bush signaled a shift of strategy in coping with the persistent insurgency in Iraq.

"Our strategy going forward has both a military track and a political track. The principal task of our military is to find and defeat the terrorists," he said.

"And that is why we are on the offense. And as we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi security forces so that they can defend their people and fight the enemy on their own," Bush said.

But US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said that the insurgency in Iraq could drag on for years. He acknowledged that Iraq is "statistically" no safer today than it was before the ouster of Saddam Hussein, although he claimed progress is being made.

The Bush speech came on the first anniversary of the US transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis, and coincided with the publication of results of a poll on his handling of Iraq.

According to the ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Tuesday, 56 percent Americans disapprove of Bush's handling of Iraq. As many as 52 percent Americans said they believe Bush " intentionally misled" Americans in making his case for war in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua