"There's pockets of resistance, but we're making good progress," Bush told reporters at the White House South Lawn, returning from his first weekend in Camp David, Maryland, since the war broke out four days ago.

But he quickly added that "this is just the beginning of a tough fight."

"We're slowly but surely achieving our objective," he said. "We're just in the beginning phases. We're executing a plan."

Echoing a similar statement made by US military leaders, Bush said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is losing control of his country.

Bush also suggested that it was too late for President Saddam to quit. "He had his chance to go into exile," the US president said, referring a 48-hour deadline he set on Monday for Saddam and his sons to leave Iraq.

Responding to reports that at least 10 American soldiers have been captured by Iraqi forces, Bush demanded that any American troops held prisoners of war in Iraq be treated humanely.

He said that as massive ground attacks are going on, the United States is also preparing humanitarian aid to Iraqis.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2003)