The United States will keep working closely with the Philippines although Manila withdraws its troops from Iraq, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Friday.

The United States and the Philippines have worked very closely together in the global war on terrorism, McClellan told a news briefing, noting the Filipino government is still "a friend and ally" of Washington.

Manila is withdrawing its 50 contingent to try to save the life of a Filipino who was kidnapped in Iraq.

The Philippines' early withdrawal, originally slated for August 20, has angered America who saw it as giving in to terror.

"The way to defeat the terrorists is to take the fight to them.You cannot have a separate peace with terrorists," McClellan said.

Source: Xinhua