Bush Backs Embattled Rumsfeld

George Bush defended his embattled Pentagon chief, Donald Rumsfeld, yesterday by praising his conduct during the war in Iraq and his compassion for US troops.

The display of support at the traditional end-of-year press conference comes at a time when Mr Rumsfeld is fending off calls for his resignation from Republicans as well as Democrats, after being accused of poor military planning and for a callous approach towards US forces.

But Mr Bush said that he was pleased to extend Mr Rumsfeld's tenure. "He is doing a very fine job," he said.

The president also brushed off new questions about Mr Rumsfeld's temperament, spurred by the revelation that the defence secretary used an automatic signature device to send condolence letters to families of the more than 1,300 US war dead.

"Beneath that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanour is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes," Mr Bush said.