Washington, Sept 3 (ZEENEWS.COM) Warning that pulling out US troops from Iraq would amount to handing it over to terrorists, President George W Bush has rejected reports of a possible civil war there and pledged not to leave the war-torn country "until victory is achieved."

"Some politicians say our best option is to pull out of Iraq, regardless of the situation on the ground. Many of these people are sincere and patriotic but they could not be more wrong," he said in his weekly radio address aired today.

"If America were to pull out before Iraq can defend itself, the consequences would be disastrous. We would be handing Iraq over to the terrorists, giving them a base of operations and huge oil riches to fund their ambitions."

"And we know exactly where those ambitions lead. If we give up the fight in the streets of Baghdad, we will face the terrorists in the streets of our own cities. The security of the civilized world depends on victory in the war on terror, and that depends on victory in Iraq, so America will not leave until victory is achieved," he said.

Despite reports, including one by Pentagon yesterday, that the country was at risk of civil war, Bush said, "our commanders and diplomats on the ground believe that Iraq has not descended into a civil war."

"They report that only a small number of Iraqis are engaged in sectarian violence, while the overwhelming majority want peace and a normal life in a unified country," he added.

In its report, Pentagon had said "conditions that could lead to civil war exist in Iraq, specifically in and around Baghdad and concern about civil war within the Iraqi civilian population has increased in recent months."