Washington: US President George W Bush on March 29 declared that the United States will accept no outcome but complete and final victory in the war in Iraq even as he said that the American and British forces are engaged in "fierce" fighting with Iraqi troops.

"Against this enemy, we will accept no outcome but complete and final victory. To meet this objective, we must give our armed services the support and resources they require," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"I have asked Congress for a nearly $ 75 billion wartime supplemental appropriations Bill," he said, adding the supplemental would also provide funds to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq, and to help protect the US "in this time of high alert".

Expressing hope that the Congress will act quickly to pass this "essential measure", Bush said the US military men are doing their best and the nation has the responsibility to give them its full support.

"American and coalition troops have continued a steady advance, and are now less than 50 miles from Baghdad," Bush said.

"In recent days, we have cleared mines from the water and taken control of a key port city to allow humanitarian aid to begin flowing into the country. We have secured more than 600 oil wells and have begun putting out the few oil well fires set by the enemy. Our efforts to protect the wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people are paying off," Bush said.

On the US-led war on Iraq, Bush said, "We have prevented the dictator from launching missiles from key sites in Western Iraq. We are now fighting the most desperate units of the dictator's Army. The fighting is fierce and we do not know its duration, yet we know the outcome of this battle - the Iraqi regime will be disarmed and removed from power. Iraq will be free."

In the last week the world has seen "first-hand the cruel nature of a dying regime", Bush said.

In areas still under its control, the regime continues its rule by "terror".

On the alleged atrocities attributed to the Iraqi regime, the American President said, "Prisoners of war have been brutalised and executed. Iraqis who refuse to fight for the regime are being murdered. An Iraqi woman was hanged for waving at coalition troops."

Some in the Iraqi military have pretended to surrender, then opened fire on coalition forces that showed them mercy, he added.

"Given the nature of this regime, we expect such war crimes, but we will not excuse them. War criminals will be hunted relentlessly and judged severely," he said.

"In the last week, the world has also seen the nature of the young men and women who fight on our behalf... Our forces are delivering food and water to 'grateful Iraqi citizens' in Safwan and Umm Qasr," he said.

PTI