US President George W. Bush and visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard rejected on Tuesday calls for an Iraq withdrawal timetable.

Speaking to reporters after talks with Howard, Bush said that the American troops will be in Iraq "as long as necessary to complete the mission."

Bush said that US troops' mission in Iraq is really important. "We're laying the foundation for peace. A free Iraq, a democratic Iraq in the heart of the Middle East is part of a vision that understands free societies are peaceful societies."

Bush said that it does not make any sense to "tell the enemy how long you're going to stay somewhere," noting US troops will not leave Iraq until the Iraqis are ready to do the fighting themselves.

In his remarks, Howard also ruled out setting a timetable or withdrawing before Iraqi forces can ensure security and have built the foundations of a democracy.

"I'm not going to try and put a time limit on our commitment in Iraq. I'm not," Howard said. "We will stay the distance in Iraq. We won't go until the job has been finished.

Australia, a staunch supporter of the US-led war on terror, currently maintains around 1,400 troops in and around Iraq.

Source: Xinhua