US President George W. Bush on Tuesday hailed the approval of Iraq's constitution in a referendum, and warned that winning Iraq's war needs more sacrifices.

"With their courageous vote, the Iraqi people have once again proved their determination to build a democracy united against extremism and violence," Bush said in a speech to military families at Bolling Air Force Base here.

Iraq held on Oct. 15 a referendum on new constitution draft. The Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission announced on Tuesday that the first post-Saddam charter was ratified by 78 percent of the voters. Twenty-one percent said No.

With the US military death toll in Iraq poised to surpass 2,000, Bush rejected growing calls for a US withdrawal by saying this would give Islamic extremists like Osama bin Laden a base for strikes at Europe, the United States and Israel.

"This war will require more sacrifice, more time and more resolve." he said. "The best way to honor the sacrifice of our fallen troops is to complete the mission."

The death toll of US troops in Iraq has reached 2,000 with the deaths of two more soldiers on Tuesday, CNN said quoting Pentagon sources.

Source: Xinhua