Bush yesterday said Rumsfeld's stewardship at the Pentagon was crucial for the US.

"Earlier today, I spoke with Don Rumsfeld about ongoing military operations in the global war on terror, " the president said. "I reiterated my strong support for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our nation."

Bush's strong endorsement, conveyed in a statement released by the White House while Bush was at Camp David for the weekend, appeared designed to blunt a rising clamour from the ranks of retired commanders for Rumsfeld's ouster.

Six retired generals have called for Rumsfeld to resign, accusing him of mishandling the Iraq war, ignoring advice of field commanders and having an arrogant management style.

Rumsfeld has rejected all such calls, while noting that Bush had twice turned down his offers to resign. In an interview yesterday on Al-Arabiya television, Rumsfeld said he intended to continue serving.

"The fact that two or three or four retired people have different views, I respect their views, " Rumsfeld said. "But obviously if, out of thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed we changed the secretary of defence of the United States, it would be like a merry-go-round."