US President George W Bush continued to firmly back his embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who is facing bipartisan calls to quit his job over the controversial firing of eight US attorneys. Speaking at the White House yesterday, Bush maintained his top law enforcement officer "broke no law" and his appearance last week before the Senate judiciary committee had "increased my confidence in his ability to do the job."

"As the investigation or the hearings went forward, it was clear that the attorney general broke no law, did no wrongdoing. And this is an honest, honorable man in whom I have confidence," the president said.

Bush also maintained Wolfowitz was honest in answering every query that was posed at him in the panel hearing.

"The Attorney General went up and gave a very candid assessment and answered every question he could possibly answer -- honestly answer. And in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to do the job."

The President also stressed the Attorney General "has the right" to recommend the replacement of attorneys.

"One of the things that's important for the American people to understand is that the Attorney General has a right to recommend to me to replace US attorneys. US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. In other words, we have named them and I have the right to replace them with somebody else," Bush remarked.