WASHINGTON, May 15: President George Bush insisted on Saturday that US troops would stay in Iraq after the June 30 handover of power despite doubts raised earlier by the United States and three allies.

"America will keep its commitment to the independence and national dignity of the Iraqi people," Mr Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"Yet the vital mission of our military in helping to provide security will continue on July 1 and beyond."

"Coalition forces are training thousands of Iraqis to protect a free Iraq from external aggression and internal subversion. Our forces will remain in Iraq to assist the Iraqi people until Iraqis can secure their own country."

On Friday, the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, Italy and Japan said their countries would withdraw their troops from Iraq if the new interim authority requests.

But US Secretary of State Colin Powell said it was highly unlikely they would be asked to leave.

"Were this interim government to say to us, we really think we can handle this on our own and it will be better if you were to leave, we will leave," Mr Powell said after chairing a Washington meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrial countries.

Mr Powell said he had no doubt the interim Iraqi government would welcome the continued presence of the US-led coalition.

"So I'm losing absolutely no sleep thinking that they might ask us to leave during this interim period while we're building up their forces," he added.

The president also defended the US military in Iraq.

"All Americans know that the actions of a few do not reflect the true character of the United States Armed Forces. No military in the history of the world has fought so hard and so often for the freedom of others."

Mr Bush also seized upon the beheading of an American civilian, 26-year-old Nick Berg, to link the combat against extremist groups to the US military's battle against guerilla groups in Iraq.-AFP