WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush insisted on Saturday that the abuse of Iraqi prisoners was conducted only by a small number of US soldiers, which has stainedthe country's honor and reputation.

    "In recent days, America and the world have learned of shockingconduct in Iraqi prisons by a small number of American servicemen and women ... Such practices do not reflect our values. They are astain on our country's honor and reputation," said Bush in his weekly radio address.

    He promised that all prison operations in Iraq would be thoroughly reviewed to make certain that similar incidents were never repeated.

    Conceding US troops had gone through "a difficult few weeks," Bush said "our forces will stay on offensive, finding and confronting the killers and terrorists who are trying to underminethe progress of democracy in Iraq."

    Bush stressed that there would be no change in his plan to handover Iraqi sovereignty at the end of June, but he also made clear that the US mission in Iraq could continue after the handover.

    Plagued by the prisoner abuse scandal and persistently rising casualties of US troops in Iraq, Bush's public support has droppedin recently months with the latest Gallup survey putting his job approval rating at only 49 percent, a record low for Bush's presidency. Enditem