The United States expects other nations with forces in Iraq to reassess their position after Spain?s decision to pull its troops out, President George W. Bush?s national security adviser said.

White House spokesman, Ken Lisaius, also said Washington wanted the Spanish withdrawal to be made in a ?coordinated, responsible and orderly manner? but offered no critique of Madrid?s decision. Condoleezza Rice, speaking on ABC?s before the decision was announced in Madrid, said : ?We know that there are others who are going to have to assess how they see the risk.?

?We have 34 countries with forces on the ground. I think there are going to be some changes,? Rice added. Spain, along with Britain and Italy, had been one of the strongest supporters of Bush?s invasion of Iraq last year to oust President Saddam Hussein.

But Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a day after being sworn in, said he ordered the 1,300 troops to be brought home as soon as possible. The White House had hoped Zapatero, who had made a pull-out a key feature of his election campaign, would reconsider his stand if the United Nations took a bigger role in Iraq. Lisaius said : ?We will work with our coalition partners in Iraq, and the Spanish government, and expect they will implement their decision in a coordinated, responsible and orderly manner.?

He added, ?As we have said before, each country will have to make its own choices in fighting the war against terror and in securing freedom for the people of Iraq.?

<B>Upsurge in violence </B>

The Bush administration has worked to shore up backing among other countries with forces in Iraq, whose resolve has been tested by a wave of kidnappings and violent attacks by insurgents in recent weeks.

?We are grateful to our other coalition partners for their recent expressions of solidarity in carrying out the mission in Iraq,? Lisaius said.

Bush, who faces re-election in November, has been accused by opponents and even some fellow Republicans of putting too few troops in the field to subdue the opposition.

Last week the Defense Department announced it would keep more than 20,000 troops in the country this summer beyond their promised yearlong tours. The total US force in Iraq is now 135,000.