The endorsement comes amid calls for the Pentagon chief to resign over the abuse of prisoners in Iraq. 

Talking to journalists after being briefed on Iraq by top generals and other senior officials at the Pentagon, Bush thanked Rumsfeld for his leadership, saying  he was "courageously leading our nation in our war against terror". 

"You are a strong secretary of defence and our nation owes you a debt of gratitude,"  he said.

The president also promised a "full accounting" for the "cruel and disgraceful" treatment of Iraqi prisoners.  Any US soldiers who abused prisoners would be brought to justice, he said.  

According to the BBC, Mr Bush was trying to reassure US troops and at the same time counter increasing calls for Rumsfeld's resignation. 

Many Democrats blame President Bush.  "There's more than a systemic failure - there's a failure of leadership that goes right to the top," former NATO commander and one-time presidential hopeful Wesley Clark told NBC television.  

Iraq war: the complete coverage