WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Friday condemned the attack on former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto as 'an horrific tragedy' but declined to blame Al-Al Qaeda or any other specific group for the bombings.

'I don't have any specific information on who it might be, which organization. I think you could say, broadly, Islamic extremists is probably accurate,' spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters.

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Thursday denounced deadly attacks on former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade and said the blasts would not derail the country's coming elections.

'The United States condemns the violent attack in Pakistan and mourns the loss of innocent life there,' White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said after two bombs left 78 people dead and more than 151 wounded.

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Thursday declined to comment on French President Nicolas Sarkozy's divorce, calling it a 'private matter' between him and ex-wife Cecilia.

'We will not comment on what is obviously a private matter between the couple,' spokeswoman Dana Perino said after Sarkozy's office announced they had divorced by mutual consent after an often tempestuous 11-year marriage.

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush's warning that Iran must be denied nuclear arms to avoid 'World War III' was just 'a rhetorical point,' not a prelude to Armageddon, his spokeswoman said Thursday.

At a White House press conference on Wednesday, Bush said that he had told world leaders 'if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them (the Iranians) from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Thursday welcomed discussions among Pakistan's political players and encouraged them to build a stable democracy that can help battle Islamist extremists.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino did not directly react to former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto's return home after an eight-year self-imposed exile, citing 'internal politics that they (the Pakistanis) will have to sort out.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Thursday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's gloomy forecast for Iraq, saying that US-led efforts there were paying off on the economic, political, and security fronts.

'We are starting to see good trend lines,' spokeswoman Dana Perino said after Putin said Washington had run into a 'dead end' in the war-torn country and should set a date for a withdrawal.

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, in a rare appearance at the White House, Thursday urged Turkey not to carry out a possible military strike at Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

'It is a Turkish decision,' he said, but Baghdad hopes Ankara will choose 'not to use the military solution and refrain from crossing Iraqi borders.'

ROGERS, Arkansas, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Monday welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao's call for a peace agreement with long-time rival Taiwan as 'a step in the right direction.'

'We believe that President Hu's remarks were a step in the right direction on seeking to reinvigorate a cross-strait dialogue,' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Earlier Monday Hu called at the opening of China's ruling Communist Party's five-yearly Congress for a peace agreement with Taiwan, but insisted that independence for the island would never be tolerated.

WASHINGTON, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Monday welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao's call for a peace agreement with long-time rival Taiwan as 'a step in the right direction.'

'We believe that President Hu's remarks were a step in the right direction on seeking to reinvigorate a cross-strait dialogue,' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Earlier Monday Hu called at the opening of the ruling Communist Party's five-yearly Congress for a peace agreement with Taiwan, but insisted that independence for the island would never be tolerated.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - The White House applauded former US vice president Al Gore Friday for winning the Nobel Peace Prize but said it would not change the administration's policy on climate change.

'Obviously it's an important recognition and we're sure the vice president is thrilled,' White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, adding President George W. Bush was 'happy for the vice president.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - The White House said Thursday it hoped Turkey would quickly return its ambassador to Washington who was recalled after a US Congress panel voted to label the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks an act of genocide.

'We look forward to his quick return and will continue to work to maintain strong US-Turkish relations,' said Gordon Johndroe, a White House national security council spokesman.

'We remain opposed to House Resolution 106 because of the grave harm it could bring to the national security of the United States.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - The White House said it was 'disappointed' Thursday with a vote in the US Congress labeling the Ottoman Empire's World War I massacre of Armenians as 'genocide.'

'Certainly we are disappointed in the vote that occurred yesterday,' said Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for US President George W. Bush, speaking about the vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Wednesday opposed a move by Congress to label the Ottoman massacres of Armenians a genocide saying it would do 'great harm' to ties with key ally Turkey.

'I urge members to oppose the Armenian genocide resolution now being considered by the House Foreign Affairs Committee,' Bush said.

WASHINGTON, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Wednesday vetoed legislation expanding a health care program mostly aimed at poor children, a politically risky move ahead of the November 2008 elections.

The president's Democratic foes, unable to curtail the unpopular war in Iraq, have seized on his opposition to their plan to build up the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as a potent political weapon.

WASHINGTON, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday declined to criticize four controversial oil deals inked by Iraq's Kurdistan regional government in defiance of criticisms from leaders in Baghdad.

The US State Department had questioned a previous deal between the Kurdish regional government and Texas-based Hunt Oil Company, noting that it might fall afoul of a hoped-for but long-delayed law on national oil revenue sharing.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday took a wait-and-see approach to a UN special envoy's visit to Myanmar after a deadly crackdown on protests there and said it looked forward to his report.

Asked whether Washington was satisfied that the envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, had been able to meet with everyone he had hoped during the trip, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: 'It sounds like it.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday took a wait-and-see approach to a UN special envoy's visit to Myanmar after a deadly crackdown on protests there, and said it looked forward to his report.

Asked whether Washington has satisfied that the envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, had been able to meet with everyone he had hoped to talk to, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: 'It sounds like it.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - The United States has no objections to Britain's announced plans to bring 1,000 troops home from Iraq by Christmas, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters Tuesday.

Asked whether Washington was comfortable with the withdrawal, which comes amid a bitter debate here over US troops levels Perino replied: 'Yes.'

'The Iraqi security forces have been working with the British there in Basra, and they've been working to get to this point, where the Iraqis say they are able to take over the security,' she told reporters.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - The White House scoffed Tuesday at an Iranian university's invitation to US President George W. Bush to address its campus, saying he was 'not taking it too seriously.'

'If Iran was a free and democratic society that allowed its people freedom of expression, and wasn't pursuing nuclear weapons, and wasn't advocating to destroy the country of israel, the president might consider that invitation,' said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

'But I think that we're not taking it too seriously,' she told reporters.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - The White House said Tuesday that it was 'supportive' of a summit between the Koreas and hoped the meeting would yield progress towards dismantling the North's nuclear weapons programs.

'We'll have to see what results from it. We have always been supportive of an inter-Korean dialogue,' spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters as leaders from the two countries met in the North's capital Pyongyang.

WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Monday expressed serious concerns about 'continued reports of violence and intimidation' in Myanmar and kept up pressure for its military rulers to give way to democratic rule.

At the same time, spokeswoman Dana Perino highlighted the importance of the diplomatic mission there by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, sent to Myanmar to express outrage over the deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.

WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Monday warned both the Sudanese government and rebel groups in Darfur of new sanctions if they continue to flout a ceasefire, after at least 10 peacekeepers were killed.

Washington also called for the deployment as soon as possible of a 26,000-strong joint African Union-United Nations force to take over peacekeeping from nearly 6,000 under-equipped and under-funded AU troops.

WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush wants a peaceful end to 'the Iranian problem,' the White House said Monday after a fresh report that the United States is looking at possible military options.

'The president has said that he believes there is a diplomatic solution that we can use to solve the Iranian problem. And that's why we're working with our allies to get there,' said Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino.

WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - The United States said Monday that it wants a planned UN force to reach Darfur 'as soon as possible' after at least 10 African Union peackeepers were killed and 50 went missing in a bloody attack.

Asked whether the raid, the most deadly on the AU force, would delay a joint AU-UN peacekeeping deployment, US President George W. Bush's chief spokeswoman Dana Perino replied: 'I have no information about a further delay.'

WASHINGTON, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Monday expressed serious concerns about continued reports of 'violence and intimidation' in Myanmar and urged its military rulers to allow peaceful protests.

'There are continued reports of violence and intimidation,' said spokeswoman Dana Perino, who added 'that is of great concern' to US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

WASHINGTON, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Thursday shrugged off US Senate approval of a Bosnia-style plan to divide Iraq on ethnic and religious lines, saying the non-binding measure would not change US policy.

'It's not something that shifts policy in Iraq,' spokesman Tony Fratto said one day after the lawmakers backed what backers touted as the sole hope of forging a stable federal state out of deadly sectarian strife.

WASHINGTON, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Thursday shrugged off US Senate approval of a Bosnia-style plan to divide Iraq on ethnic and religious lines, saying the non-binding measure would not change US policy.

'It's not something that shifts policy in Iraq,' spokesman Tony Fratto said one day after the lawmakers backed what backers touted as the sole hope of forging a stable federal state out of deadly sectarian strife.

WASHINGTON, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - The United States demanded Thursday that Myanmar's military rulers end an 'outrageous' and deadly crackdown on anti-government protestors and called for more global pressure on the junta.

'The Burmese government should not stand in the way of its people's desire for freedom. They must stop this violence against peaceful protesters now,' said White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

WASHINGTON, Sept 27, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Thursday declared a war of words on Myanmar's military rulers, declaring that it would keep calling that country 'Burma' in a show of support for pro-democracy activists there.

Spokesman Tony Fratto said Washington's refusal to use the junta's term for their country was 'intentional' because 'we choose not to use the language of a totalitarian dictatorial regime that oppresses its people.'

NEW YORK, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - The United States said Wednesday it was 'very troubled' by Myanmar's deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters and urged 'a peaceful transition' in Yangon from military rule to democracy.

'The United States is very troubled that the regime would treat the Burmese people this way. We call on the junta to proceed in a peaceful transition to democracy,' said White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

Asked whether Washington considered earlier reports of violence in Myanmar to have been confirmed, Johndroe replied: 'Yes.'

NEW YORK, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday said reports of deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Myanmar were 'troubling' and urged the military junta to respect human rights.

'The United States urges the junta to respect the human rights of the people of Burma and to move to a peaceful transition to democracy,' said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

NEW YORK, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - The White House congratulated Japan's new Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on his election to the post, which he took over on Tuesday from outgoing premier Shinzo Abe.

'We congratulate Yasuo Fukuda on his election as prime minister,' said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. President George W. Bush 'looks forward to working with him and the new Japanese government.'

Fukada, a conservative, took the reins from nationalist Abe whose one year in office was dogged by cabinet scandals, gaffes and a heavy election defeat.

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Monday urged Myanmar's military rulers to show 'restraint' in dealing with mass protests and said it hoped for dialogue between the regime and the demonstrators.

'The US mission in Burma is carefully monitoring developments and we are consulting with allies and friends in the regions on ways to encourage dialogue between the regime and those seeking freedom as well as encouraging the regime to show restraint,' said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

WASHINGTON, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - The White House said Friday that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was 'working hard' to fight corruption but declined to say whether he had been 'adequately successful.'

'The Maliki government is working hard to try to battle corruption and I can't say that I'm in a position to say whether they're being adequately successful,' said spokesman Tony Fratto.

WASHINGTON, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Friday said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's views were 'abhorrent, if not dangerous' but declined to criticize a top US university for inviting him to speak.

'This is a country where, you know, people can come and speak, and speak their minds, it's something that we're proud of -- even people whose ideas and beliefs we find abhorrent if not dangerous,' said spokesman Tony Fratto.

WASHINGTON, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush is 'concerned' about the Blackwater controversy in Iraq, the White House said Wednesday, as Washington and Baghdad sought a compromise to end the damaging dispute.

At the same time, Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino appeared to reject Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's forceful calls to replace the company, repeatedly insisting that civilian US workers in Iraq 'need protection.'

WASHINGTON, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday denounced a car bombing in Beirut that killed five people including anti-Syrian lawmaker Antoine Ghanem and vowed to help build democracy in Lebanon.

'The United States strongly condemns this attack and we will continue to stand with those in Lebanon who are fighting for a free and democratic country,' said White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

WASHINGTON, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday declined to answer Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's call to replace the private security firm Blackwater after a deadly shootout in Baghdad.

Press secretary Dana Perino noted that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had 'expressed the deepest regret for the loss of innocent life' while insisting that the US State Department's employees require protection in Iraq.