Bush hits at 'axis of evil' in farewell conference

President George W. Bush said yesterday that North Korea and Iran, part of what he once branded an "axis of evil," remained dangerous but the biggest threat facing his successor Barack Obama was another terrorist attack on America.

At a farewell news conference in which he tried to burnish a troubled foreign policy legacy, Mr Bush denied that US treatment of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo, criticised by human rights groups, had damaged America's moral standing in the world.

He insisted his failed bid to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians in his final year in office had not been completely in vain, despite the latest crisis in the Gaza Strip, which he blamed squarely on the Islamist group Hamas.

Mr Bush, speaking at the White House eight days before handing over to Mr Obama, staunchly defended his record but was at times uncharacteristically reflective.

He admitted having regrets that weapons of mass destruction had not been found in Iraq after the US-led 2003 invasion. Presence of such weapons was the prime justification for overthrowing President Saddam Hussein.

But Mr Bush held the line against North Korea and Iran, whose nuclear standoffs with the West have been major challenges for his administration. "North Korea's still a problem," he said when asked about the threats Mr Obama will face. "So they're still dangerous and Iran is still dangerous."

"In order to advance our relations with North Korea, the North Korean government must honour the commitments it made to allow for strong verification measures to be in place to ensure that they do not develop a highly enriched uranium programme," Mr Bush said.

Six-party talks with North Korea over dismantling its nuclear arms programs have stalled and little movement is expected before a new US administration. Mr Obama has promised his administration will have direct talks with America's foes, in contrast to Mr Bush's strategy of diplomatic isolation.