A thick blanket of smoke covered a Palestinian refugee camp Thursday as the army unleashed one of its heaviest bombardments against Al Qaeda-inspired gunmen holed up inside.

US President George W. Bush said Thursday he was sending his diplomatic and defence chiefs to the Middle East next month to shore up support for Iraq’s besieged government.

US President George W. Bush acknowledged on Thursday his Iraq strategy had made only limited progress but put off considering a change of course in the unpopular war until a crucial September report.