The U.S. will bolster the number of troops in Baghdad to help quell violence in the area, U.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday.

Bush made the comments following a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the White House.

U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, right, walk from the Oval Office to a joint news conference on Tuesday. Bush announced the U.S. will bolster troops in Baghdad.
(Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

"Conditions change inside a country," Bush said during a news conference with the Iraqi leader.

The president said progress is being made elsewhere in Iraq. He said that will allow more U.S. troops to go to Baghdad from other parts of the country in the coming weeks. The plan will embed more U.S. military police with Iraqi police units to make them more effective, the president said.

Bush said his top generals in the area and the Iraqi prime minister made the request for more troops.

He also said his government will provide Iraqi security forces with better equipment and firepower.

'Highly professional force'

Bush did not say how many troops or personnel would be deployed to Baghdad, which continues to be ripped by deadly violence.

Bush praised the Iraqi army, saying it's becoming a "highly professional force." He also stressed the U.S. will keep troops in the country and will remain there at the request of al-Maliki, stressing the U.S. "won't abandon his people."

"He comes wondering whether or not we are committed. He hears all kinds of things coming out of the United States," Bush said. "And I assured him that this government stands by the Iraqi people."

Al-Maliki said progress is being made in curbing violence in Baghdad.

"We are determined to defeat terrorism and the security plan for Baghdad has entered the second phase, and it's achieving its objectives in hunting the terrorists and networks, and eliminating it," al-Maliki said.