US President George W. Bush vowed on Wednesday to "stay on the offense" in response to increased insurgency in Iraq ahead of next week's constitutional referendum.

Acknowledging the insurgents' determination to disrupt the Oct. 15 referendum, Bush said the Pentagon and US troops will "stay on the offense, and that's what's taking place."

He made the remarks after being briefed on the Iraq situation by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace and Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, who oversees the training of Iraq's newly-founded security forces.

"We fully understand they (Iraqi insurgents) intend to disrupt the constitutional process, or will try to do so, as well as stop the progress of democracy," said Bush.

Responding to that, the US troops "will stay there as long as necessary," he said.

The president also praised the "improving capability" of the Iraqi forces and suggested that once "they become more capable, we will be able to bring folks home."

Bush's speech was delivered at a time when US public support for his Iraq policy decreased quickly and the death toll of US soldiers in Iraq exceeded 1,900.

A recent poll co-conducted by CNN, Gallup and the USA Today found only 32 percent of Americans approved of Bush's Iraq policy.

On Thursday, Bush is scheduled to deliver a speech to defend his handling of the Iraq war.

Source: Xinhua