Durban: US President George W Bush on July 9 said the US would get involved in war-ravaged Liberia, but would not "overstretch" his forces that are already engaged in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia.

"We won't overextend our troops, period," Bush said at a press conference with his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria on the second leg of his five-nation tour to the African continent.

The US has already sent about 8,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, 1,50,000 in Iraq and 2,500 in Kosovo, he said, adding that the US was training battalions of African troops in peacekeeping. He said "helping people help themselves" was one way of ensuring that the American troops are not overstretched.

The US President said he was still awaiting the assessment of an American mission that he had despatched to the West African nation ravaged by a civil war for four years.

He said he had no hesitation in saying that he had made the correct move to remove Saddam Hussein from office in Iraq.

Both Mbeki and Bush, playing down their stated differences over Zimbabwe, said there was an urgent need to address the political and economic challenges of the country.

Mbeki, addressing Bush and his entourage as they prepared to leave on the next leg of their five-nation African tour, said the people of the United States had offered their unwavering support to South Africa during the struggle era and they were now doing the same to overcome the challenges that post- apartheid South Africa faced.

"We are pleased by the clear commitments shown by the US to assist both South Africa and the continent. "The visit will certainly result in strengthened bilateral relations and strengthened co- operation to meet these and other challenges that we face together," he said.

Bush, in response, said he appreciated the relationship between the United States and South Africa. "The partnership", said Bush, "could help extend democracy, free markets and transparency across the African continent."

On Zimbabwe, President Bush said the US would like to encourage the South African government to continue its work of engaging the warring parties in that country.

PTI