U.S. President George W. Bush speaks at the National Newspaper Association Government Affairs Conference in Washington, March 10, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged on Friday the tension of situation in Iraq although he said he is still optimistic about Iraq's future.

    "You are seeing the use of violence to try to create strife andthere is no question a period of tension in Iraq," Bush said at a meeting of the National Newspaper Association's Government Affair's Conference.

    "There's a lot of tension and a lot of rivalry. One of the big issues we're going to have to deal with is make sure that people don't take revenge outside the rule of law," Bush said.

    Bush reiterated the U.S. call for the Iraqis to form a government of national unity. "We are going to continue to remind them that the sooner they can get a unity government up and running, the more confidence the people will have in their future," he said.

    Nonetheless, Bush expressed confidence in Iraq's future.

    "In 16 of the 18 provinces, there's relative calm and they perform, by and large, in good fashion," Bush said.

    In efforts to allay public worries that Iraq may fall into a civil war, Bush is expected to give three speeches on Iraq starting next Monday to clarify his administration's policy on Iraq. Enditem