US President George W. Bush on Thursday accused Iran, Syria and Hezbollah of playing a nefarious role in the carnage gripping Iraq and warned that an early US withdrawal would only "frighten Arab allies." For this reason, Bush said Thursday he was sending US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East next month to consult Arab allies on the conflict.

Bush spoke after an interim White House report found the Iraqi government had made only mixed progress in meeting political goals. It said conditions were still dangerous and challenging, six months after Bush ordered a US troop buildup.

"The fight in Iraq is part of a broader struggle that's unfolding across the region," Bush said.

"The same region in Iran - the same regime in Iran that is pursuing nuclear weapons and threatening to wipe Israel off the map is also providing sophisticated IEDs [improvised-explosive device] to extremists in Iraq who are using them to kill American soldiers.

"The same Hezbollah terrorists who are waging war against the forces of democracy in Lebanon are training extremists to do the same against coalition forces in Iraq.

"The same Syrian regime that provides support and sanctuary for Islamic jihad and Hamas has refused to close its airport in Damascus to suicide bombers headed to Iraq," Bush said.

"All these extremist groups would be emboldened by a precipitous American withdrawal, which would confuse and frighten friends and allies in the region," he said, adding that Arab nations have "a stake in a stable Iraq."

He said that the "war against extremists and radicals is not only evident in Iraq, but it's evident in Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories and Afghanistan."

Bush told a White House news conference that the visits by Rice and Gates would reaffirm US support for democratic reform in the region.

"We're also using the tools of diplomacy to strengthen regional and international support for Iraq's democratic government, so I'm sending Secretary Gates and Secretary Rice to the region in early August," Bush said.

Rice had been due to undertake a mission to Israel and the Palestinian Territories next week, but that has now been postponed to the end of July, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.

"I firmly believe that you'll see the democracy movement continue to advance throughout the Middle East if the United States doesn't become isolationist," he said.

"Condi Rice and Bob Gates will ... remind our friends and allies that one, we view them as strategic partners, and secondly that we want them to work toward freer societies and to help this Iraqi government survive.

"It's in their interests that Iraq becomes a stable partner. And I believe we can achieve that objective."

Echoing Bush's accusations against Iran and Syria, the interim report said accused Damascus of fostering a network that supplies. It also said Tehran continues to fund extremist groups.

"Our assessment is that nearly 80 percent of suicide bombers are foreign fighters - with the vast majority traveling to Iraq through Syria - and to Syria from their home countries by air travel to Damascus," it said.

"This Syria-based network is able to supply some 50 to 80 suicide bombers to AQI per month. Since January, there have been nearly 280 suicide events in Iraq, accounting for nearly 5,500 casualties, mostly innocent Iraqis going about their daily lives."

"As noted, Iran funds extremist groups to promote attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces, and the Iraqi government," the report said.

"We see little change in Iran's policy of seeking US defeat through direct financial and material support for attacks against US military and civilians in Iraq," it said.

Bush acknowledged his Iraq strategy had made limited progress but said he would wait for a September security report by Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander in Iraq, and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker before considering a change of course.

"We'll also have a clearer picture of how the new strategy is unfolding, and be in a better position to judge where we need to make any adjustments," Bush said.

He said he would consider "making another decision, if need be" at that time.

In another day of violence in Iraq, a suicide bomber in the northern town of Tal Afar on Thursday killed seven guests celebrating the wedding of an Iraqi policeman.

Drafted by White House officials with leading contributions from Petraeus and Crocker, the report gave the Iraqi government a satisfactory grade on eight of 18 goals set by Congress. It showed that on eight of the benchmarks, Baghdad's performance was unsatisfactory, and mixed on two others.

Bush said however he still had "confidence" in Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and styled the report as an initial snapshot of the surge.

"I believe we can succeed in Iraq, and I know we must," Bush said.

The interim report showed limited progress by the Iraqi government in meeting goals for political reconciliation such as passing a law to share oil revenues.

"Effective steps toward national reconciliation will require national leadership from all communities and expression of a common national political will, or 'vision,' that has so far been lacking," it said. "The consensus nature of Iraqi politics, and the checks and balances built into the Iraqi governance structure, inhibit Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ability to govern effectively - and would pose obstacles to any prime minister."

It also warned of the risk of further attacks by Al-Qaeda in coming months.

"The security situation in Iraq remains complex and extremely challenging," it said.

It also warned of "tough fighting" during the summer, as US and Iraqi forces "seek to seize the initiative from early gains and shape conditions of longer-term stabilization." - Agencies