Gaborone: President George W Bush on July 10 admitted his government had security problems in Iraq but pledged US forces would be "tough" in dealing with this after the death of three more soldiers.

"There is no question we have got a security issue in Iraq," said Bush after meeting in Gaborone with Botswanan President Festus Mogae.

"We are just going to have to deal with it person by person. We are going to have to remain tough," said the US leader, on the third leg of a five-nation African tour.

The three US soldiers were reported killed in separate attacks. One attack targeted a US convoy in Saddam's hometown of Baghdad killing one soldier and wounding another, US military officials in Iraq said, without providing further details.

In Mahmudiyah, south of the capital, two soldiers were killed when they were ambushed with small arms fire, Sergeant Patrick Compton said. However, he did not elaborate.

The deaths brought the toll from attacks on US troops to 32 since May 1, when the United States declared major combat operations over, and highlighted the human as well as the financial cost of the occupation.

Agencies