Washington - US President George W Bush asked Congress Monday to sign off on the remaining 350 billion dollars of the finance bailout package after receiving a request to release the funds from president-elect Barack Obama.

Bush had said earlier Monday that he was willing to do so if Obama, who takes office in eight days, asked the president to move forward on the next phase of the
700-billion-dollar bailout for the embattled financial industry.

"President Bush agreed to the president-elect's request," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement.

"We will continue our consultations with the president-elect's transition team, and with Congress, on how best to proceed in accordance with the requirements of the statute," she said.

Washington  - President George W Bush in a final press conference before leaving office said he felt honoured to witness the "historic moment in racial relations" with the swearing in of the United

Washington, Jan. 12 : Outgoing US President George W Bush has admitted to refusing to "bail out" his Republican party by withdrawing troops "during the darkest days of Iraq".

That decision is now lauded by his father in an unprecedented joint interview to FOX News Sunday.

"During the darkest days of Iraq, people came to me and said, ''You''re creating incredible political difficulties for us,''" the current president said as his term draws to a close. "And I said, ''Oh, really? What do you suggest I do?'' And some suggested retreat, pull out of Iraq.

New York, Jan 11 : Us President George W Bush revealed to the Israelis that he already had authorized a covert US effort to sabotage Iran’s nuclear capabilities, according to unnamed American and foreign officials. 

A secret Israeli plan for airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facility was scuttled last year when the United States rebuffed Israel in its request to fly through Iraqi airspace, the New York Times reported on a covert US programme.

The story cites unnamed American and foreign officials in reporting that President Bush also turned away an Israeli request for bunker-busting bombs for use in its planned attack on the Iranian nuclear complex. 

Washington  - President George W Bush turned down a request by Israel last year for special bunker-busting bombs and other aid to attack Iran's nuclear programme, while the US instead initiated covert action aimed at slowing Tehran's nuclear advances, the New York Times reported Sunday.

Washington, Jan 10 : George W. Bush's life after the end of his presidency will reportedly be filled with bike rides and baseball games.

With less than two weeks left for him to leave the office, Bush and wife Laura spoke out about what they expect from post-White House "afterlife".

"Being a type-A personality, I''m confident I''ll be able to fill my days with activities," CBS News quoted the president as saying.

Bush''s `afterlife' will apparently be filled with bike rides, going to his office, a memoir, and perhaps baseball games.

He is also planning to work on the presidential library and Freedom Institute to be built at Southern Methodist University.