June 'tough' in Afghanistan, Bush says

WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush acknowledged Wednesday that troop deaths in Afghanistan in June surpassed casualty levels in Iraq for the second straight month.

During a news conference at the White House, Bush said one reason there have been more deaths is because "our troops are taking the fight to a tough enemy, an enemy who doesn't like our presence there because they don't like the idea of America denying safe haven."

In June, 46 foreign troops died in Afghanistan and 31 troops died in Iraq, figures tallied by CNN indicated. In May, 23 foreign troops died in Afghanistan and 21 in Iraq.

It "has been a tough month in Afghanistan" for coalition forces, Bush said, "but it's also been a tough month for the Taliban."

U.S. officials were "constantly reviewing" troop needs and levels in Afghanistan, Bush said, noting there will be troop increases by 2009.

Coalition forces in Afghanistan have doubled from two years ago, Bush said.

"But we're constantly reassessing and seeing whether or not we can change tactics in order to achieve our objective," he said.