U.S. President George W. Bush Tuesday consulted through telephone with leaders of Australia, Britain and Denmark over the Iraq issue one day before he announces his new Iraq strategy, the White House said.

Bush thanked the three nations for their continued strong support of coalition efforts in Iraq, and discussed the outcome of the recently completed Iraq strategy review with the prime ministers of the three countries, said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

These countries have combat units serving with multinational forces in Iraq and have been key partners since the formation of the coalition, Johndroe said.

Bush is due to address Americans on his new Iraqi plan on Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT) from the White House.

Britain is Washington's closest ally in the three-year Iraq war and stations the second largest number of troops in the country following the United States.

Australia sent 2,000 troops to back U.S. and British forces in the Iraqi invasion in 2003, and still maintains hundreds of soldiers in Iraq.

Denmark has about 530 troops in Iraq supporting the U.S.-led coalition and another 360 in Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led force.

Source: Xinhua