Special Report: Obama's first 100 days in White House

    WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama gave a thumb-up on Wednesday to his administration in the first 100 days, but warned of more challenges facing the country, including job loss, terrorism threats and epidemic outbreak.

    "I think we're off to a good start, but it's just a start," Obama told his 100-day press conference at the White House. "I'm proud of what we've achieved, but I'm not contented. I'm pleased with our progress, but I'm not satisfied."

    Economy, as the first priority checked off by the president, was highlighted by the passages of a recovery act and a health insurance bill for children, and the launching of a house plan against foreclosure.

    On foreign policy front, Obama commended his infant government for its efforts to end the Iraq war, forge a new strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and begin the closure of the Guantanamo prison, along with ban on torture.

    "We've renewed our diplomatic efforts to deal with challenges ranging from the global economic crisis to the spread of nuclear weapons," he added.

    He noted that situation had been improved in Iraq, where "legitimate cause of concern, civilian deaths, incidents of bombings" remain at low level compared to last year, and political system is "holding and functioning" to pave way for the final transfer of security responsibility.

    However, challenges remain seeable and foreseeable.

    Statistics released on Wednesday show that despite boosted confidence in the market and consumption, the U.S. GDP in the first quarter declined 6.1 percent, more than the expected 5 percent.

    Other syndromes of the economic recession singled out by Obama included a large number of Americans without jobs and homes, and unrestored credit and auto industry.

    He also cited without elaboration the threats against the United States, from terrorism to nuclear proliferation, as well as a pandemic swine flu.

    When asked about his biggest surprise at the White House, Obama said that he did not expect that large number of critical issues to come at the same time when he announced for the presidential race.

    "When I first started this race, Iraq was a central issue ... I didn't anticipate the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," he said.

    He also admitted that changes in Washington comes slow since "a certain quotient of political posturing and bickering" still takes place even amid big crisis.

    Considering unaccomplished missions and newly-emerging challenges, Obama mapped out a plan in the next 100 days or more to "strengthen our prosperity and our security."

    Other tasks Obama mentioned for his administration included a health care reform that can reduce cost and maintain services, an energy legislation that leads to clean-energy revolution, news rules for the banking sector, and procurement reform to save taxpayer dollars.

    The president also expected to see a resolution that maintains viable auto companies to sustain a strong and competitive industry.

    As usual, he called for Americans' support and patience for the plan to "make sure that this country is what it can be."

    The ongoing swine flu outbreak in the United States tested the Obama administration's ability to tackle a health crisis.

    Apart from request for 1.5-billion-U.S.-dollar emergency funding, Obama urged Americans to take caution and steps to control the virus.

    He also dealt with the issues of immigration reform and abortion right, and defended his opposition to using torture on terrorist suspects in the name of safeguarding national security.

    Obama administration's first 100-day anniversary came as a Republican senator shifted his party affiliation to the Democratic Party, which gave the latter 60 Senate votes needed to avoid filibuster to delay or block legislative action.

    However, Obama ruled out illusion that he could have a rubber-stamp Senate in the rest of his White House days, since all Senators have independent opinions and are tasked to represent their own constituencies.

    Despite apparent failure in bipartisan cooperation in the first100 days, Obama continued to urge Republicans to work with him on "a whole host of areas."