21 US soldiers were killed as Bush vows to stay in Iraq

The American president announced he will continue the war against what he called the enemy in Iraq. This commitment came following the killing of 21 American soldiers in Iraq within the two past days.

President George W. Bush said that the best way to honor the Americans who were killed in Iraq is to complete the mission, and reject any early withdrawal. He added in a speech on Wednesday "we are in a state of war.. we are facing unmerciful enemy," and If the US draws a schedule for withdrawal, the enemy will be further encouraged.

For its part, the US defense department ( Pentagon) denied any of its soldiers to be held as a prisoner by Ansar al-Sunni group which claimed responsibility for the killing of 8 marines and jailing a ninth on Monday in west Iraq.

The reply of the spokesman for the Pentagon came following a statement issued by the group on the Internet in which they asserted killing the 8 American soldiers and jailing the 9th after attacking their vehicle in Barawneh city, west Iraq.

This statement coincided with statements made by American military men expressing their concern in recent months that gunmen in Iraq are manufacturing more dangerous bombs against armored vehicles.