Bush wraps up visit to Jordan

U.S. President George W. Bush left Amman on Thursday after wrapping up a visit to Jordan during which he held breakfast talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on the latest development and security situation in Iraq.

Bush left Jordan shortly after he held a joint press conference along with Maliki.

Speaking at the press conference, President Bush praised Maliki for his courage and pledged more support to Maliki's government.

Although both of the two leaders agreed an early transfer of security responsibility from U.S.-led coalition to Iraqi government army, but Bush still said that the U.S. troops would remain in Iraq until Iraqi government has the ability to protect its law and order.

Out of the security consideration and under the protest from Iraq, Bush cut short his meeting with Maliki to a breakfast meeting and left almost immediately after the meeting.

But U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who accompanied Bush to Middle East, was left to continue her regional visit to Palestinian territories and Israel.

The U.S. president, who arrived in Amman late Wednesday, also met with Jordanian King Abdullah II and discussed with him the latest developments and the situation in the region.

Source: Xinhua