Washington: Reviewing the first 100 days since he declared end of "major combat operations" in Iraq, US President George W Bush on August 9 insisted "steady progress" has been made and life was returning to normal in the country.

"For America and our coalition partners, these have been 100 days of steady progress and decisive action against the last hold-outs of the former regime", Bush said in his weekly radio address.

Bush claimed life was returning to normal in Iraq as the country was moving towards more openness and democracy, with a functioning economy.

"Life is returning to normal for the Iraqi people hospitals and universities have opened, and in many places, water and other utility services are reaching pre-war levels.

Across Iraq, nearly all schoolchildren have completed their exams. And for the first time in many years, a free press is at work in Iraq", Bush said.

Bush stressed that Iraq was in the process of rebuilding itself with the banks having opened in Baghdad and new notes expected to be issued soon.

"Iraq's energy industry is once again serving the interests of the Iraqi people. More than a million barrels of crude oil and over 2 million gallons of gasoline are being produced daily", Bush said.

Claiming the period was important for the Iraqis, he said, "for the people of Iraq, this has been a period like none other in the country's history, a time of change and rising hopes after decades of tyranny".

PTI