Iraq pullout would be wrong, says Bush

"Pulling the troops out would send a terrible signal to the enemy," he said.

Speaking to reporters at his ranch, the president noted that the United States sent more soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan before elections and was considering doing so again before another round of Iraqi elections in December.

Reports that the Pentagon may increase or decrease troop levels in Iraq next year were simply "speculation and rumours," he said between meetings Thursday with his military and foreign affairs advisers.

Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, has said repeatedly that "fairly substantial" reductions were expected after the election if the political process stayed on track, if the insurgency did not expand and if the training of Iraqi security forces proceeded as planned.

Meanwhile, Iraqi branch of al-Qaeda's on Thursday said it would kill anyone taking part in drafting the country's new constitution or in the ensuing referendum to approve the document, according to an Internet statement.

"The tribunal has decided to apply the order of Allah: kill whoever assumes the right to be a partner of God and draws up a null and void constitution ... the tribunal has also decided to ... strike at referendum voting stations," it said.