Washington - President George W Bush will welcome president- elect Barack Obama to the White House on Monday to discuss the transition phase over the coming months, the two announced Thursday.

Bush and his wife Laura will greet Obama and his wife Michelle before the two leaders retreat to a private meeting Monday afternoon.

Obama said the talks would help ensure a "smooth, effective transition" between now and January 20.

"I thank (Bush) for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship that will be required to meet the many challenges we face as a nation," Obama said.

Washington - President George W Bush said Thursday he would ensure an orderly transition over the next two months and will welcome president-elect Barack Obama to the White House next week.

Facing the first wartime handover of power since Vietnam, Bush said his staff would immediately begin briefing Obama's advisors on policy decisions.

"We all share a steadfast devotion to the United States," Bush said in a statement at the White House. "All of us must ensure that the next president and his team can hit the ground running."

Washington - US President George W Bush on Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on becoming the first African American ever elected to the White House and promised a smooth transition over the next two months.

"No matter how they cast their ballots, all Americans can be proud of the history that was made yesterday," Bush said in a brief statement at the White House Rose Garden. "Many of our citizens thought they would never live to see that day."

Washington - US voters took a sharp turn to the left in Tuesday's election, sending Barack Obama to the White House and strengthening Democratic control of Congress in a firm rejection of eight years of President George W Bush.

Americans embraced Obama's message of "change" and handed him victories in all regions, including in a few states that had been Republican strongholds, as Republican nominee John McCain was unable to distance himself from the current president.

Washington - US President George W Bush has been a no-show on the campaign trail as the election season comes to a close, with Republicans worried that his unpopularity will hurt their chances with voters heading to the ballot box on Tuesday.

Bush has not made any public campaign appearances with Senator John McCain or any other Republican running for office in the past few months, limiting his role to a handful of fundraisers behind closed doors.