US President George W Bush made a Thanksgiving Day visit to Baghdad.

After meeting some US troops -- mostly from the US Army's 1st Armored Division and the 82nd Airborne -- and members of the Iraqi Governing Council, Bush left Baghdad at about 8 pm local time. Air Force One stayed on the ground for just two-and-a-half hours, the White House said.

The US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, had told the troops he was going to read a message from the president.

But he then announced he would defer to the most senior person present.

Just then Bush, wearing a US Army exercise jacket, appeared from behind a curtain, to the shock of the nearly 600 soldiers present.

"I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere," Bush said. "Thanks for inviting me to dinner... I can't think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all."

He told them they were defending the American people "from danger and we are grateful".

Bush assured the soldiers and Iraqi leaders that the US would stay the course in Iraq. "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost of casualties, defeat a ruthless dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," he said, prompting cheers and a standing ovation.

Later, Bush stood in a line for food and spooned out sweet potatoes and corn for the holiday dinner.

Owing to security reasons, the visit was kept secret until Bush left the Iraqi capital.

It had been announced that Bush would spend Thanksgiving with his family at his Texas ranch.

Some journalists accompanied Bush from the US but few in Baghdad knew about the visit.

As part of the security measures, Air Force One landed in the Iraqi capital well after sunset,

This may be a major public relations coup for Bush specially in view of the criticism his government has been facing for its inability to justify the invasion of Iraq and the forthcoming presidential election in 2004.

On October 26, US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz had a narrow escape after the Rashid Hotel in Baghdad in which he was staying was attacked with rockets.

Some days back, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad.