Bush, aides admit Iraq insurgency still tough

CAMP DAVID, Md., June 12 (Reuters) President George W Bush today acknowledged that Iraq's insurgency remains a serious challenge despite Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death and insisted US troops must stay for now to help the country's fledgling government.

''I fully recognize that's not an end to war, on the other hand it was a major blow to al Qaeda ... and the terrorists who are trying to spread violence and stop the emergence of a new democracy,'' Bush said, referring to the killing last Wednesday of the al Qaeda leader in Iraq.

Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and aides began two days of consultations at Camp David to reassess strategy for the increasingly unpopular war that has dragged down the president's approval ratings in a congressional election year.

They spoke by videoconference with the top US commanders in Iraq, Gens. George Casey and John Abizaid, as well as the US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad.

Bush asked the generals to thank US forces for bringing Zarqawi ''to justice.'' Zarqawi was killed when an F-16 jet fighter leveled an al Qaeda hideout with two 500-pound bombs.

White House counselor Dan Bartlett told reporters after an initial three-hour session that it was agreed the Iraqi insurgency remained ''a very serious and vexing challenge.'' He called the completion of Iraq's national unity government a ''fundamental break point'' for the Iraqi people and said the meeting aimed to take a comprehensive look at all Iraqi government agencies to make sure the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is successful.

The White House also sought to temper heightened expectation among many Americans that Zarqawi's death would lead to US troop reductions soon.

Bartlett said the meeting was not about troop numbers and that Bush's position remained that any withdrawals will be based on conditions on the ground.

REUTERS SY BD2346