Washington:  US President George W. Bush said his cabinet was making progress towards a new strategy for the conflict in Iraq but did not reveal any details that might be contained in a final assessment.

"We are making good progress in coming up with a plan that will help us achieve our objective," Bush said at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, where he held a meeting with his top national security officials Thursday.

Bush has been conducting an internal review of his policy aimed at halting the deterioration of Iraq, which has been on the verge of civil war for months amid a widening sectarian conflict.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates attended the meeting a week after visiting Iraq since taking over from Donald Rumsfeld, who resigned after Bush's Republican Party was soundly defeated in November's congressional elections.

Also on hand were Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and General Peter Pace, the top ranking US military officer.

Bush has said he will publicly outline his new plan for Iraq early next year.

Bush is reportedly weighing adding up to 30,000 troops to the 140,000 forces already in the country in an effort to halt the chaos in Baghdad and surrounding areas.