Mister Bush said American forces are making progress in trainingIraqi troops. He said one hundred twenty-five thousand should betrained in time for elections in Iraq. Voting is planned at the endof January.

Iraq's temporary prime minister, Iyad Allawi, joined a meeting ofEuropean Union leaders in Brussels Friday. He received promises ofclose to forty million dollars in technical aid for the elections.The Europeans also offered other steps, including more money toprotect United Nations aid workers.

Diplomats told VOA's Roger Wilkison that the European Union istrying to repair relations with the United States following theelection. Almost half the members opposed the American-led invasionof Iraq.

President Bush also discussed other issues when he spoke toreporters Thursday. He promised to work to simplify American taxlaws and to strengthen the Social Security system for retiredworkers. He said tax reform will help make sure the American economyis the most competitive in the world.

The president also called on Congress to pass an intelligencereform law. And he said he would also continue to work on educationissues and supporting legal reform legislation.

Mister Bush offered to work with his opponents. But he made clearthat he has enough political support to fight for his positions.Republicans strengthened their control of Congress in the generalelections Tuesday. Democrats in the Senate, however, still haveenough votes to block legislation.

The president said there will be some cabinet changes, but addedthat he did not know who they will be. Media reports this week saidAttorney General John Ashcroft is likely to resign soon.

Mister Bush in his new term may also have to name one or more newjustices of the Supreme Court. He said he would appoint judges whodo not let personal opinion interfere with understanding the law.Five of the nine current members often vote as a conservativemajority. They include Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who is beingtreated for thyroid cancer.

President Bush will be sworn-in for his second term on Januarytwentieth. He won fifty-one percent of the popular vote. DemocraticSenator John Kerry received forty-eight percent. Senator Kerrycalled for unity and national healing. But he said Democrats willcontinue to fight for issues such as job growth, health care and theenvironment.

In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk.This is Steve Ember.