WASHINGTON (AP):

Down to single-digit approval ratings in his last days in office, President George W. Bush is warning the Republican Party not to become 'anti-immigrant' as it regroups from defeat and retools its leadership.

"It's very important for our party not to narrow its focus, not to become so inward looking that we drive people away from a philosophy that is compassionate and decent," the departing president said in an interview broadcast yesterday, nine days before his term ends. "My call for our party is to be open-minded."

After Republicans lost control of Congress in 2006, the party took another thumping in November, when Barack Obama won the presidency and Democrats ex-panded their control of the House and Senate. Bush was not on the ballot either time, but both elections were seen at least partly as a repudiation of him.

"Obviously, we got whipped in 2008," Bush said.

Overhaul

Republican leaders are re-examining both their message and their messengers. Bush said the party need not change its basic tenets, such as low taxes and a strong defence. But he warned that there should not be any "litmus tests as to whether or not you can be a Republican".

"We should be open-minded about big issues, like immigration reform, because if we're viewed as anti-somebody - in other words, if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant, then another fellow may say, 'Well, if they're against the immigrant, they may be against me.' We've got to be a party for a better future."

Bush promised an overhaul of immigration policy in his second term. But it went down to defeat in Congress when some leading lawmakers, including conservative members of his party, thought that provisions such as a guest worker programmes amounted to amnesty for illegal immigrants.

George W. Bush appeared on Fox News Sunday, in an interview taped Wednesday.