Outgoing US President Bush has warned his successor Barack Obama of another terrorist attack on the United States ahead of his inauguration.

Within eight days in office, Bush said in his last news conference that the most urgent security challenge Obama will face is preventing another attack like those of Sept. 11, 2001.

“There’s still an enemy out there that would like to inflict damage on America — Americans. And that’ll be the major threat,” Bush said on Monday.

“But I wish him all the best … The stakes are high,” he added.

Only eight months into his presidency, Bush faced the 9/11 attacks on the US.

The outgoing president also defended his record when asked if the harsh treatment of terrorism suspects along with going to war in Iraq without a UN approval had hurt the US image abroad.

“I strongly disagree with the assessment that our moral standing has been damaged,” Reuters quoted Bush as saying.

However, he admitted having regrets that weapons of mass destruction – the main justification for the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq – had not been found in the country.

Bush has planned to make a farewell address to the nation next Thursday, according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

With low public approval ratings, two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a financial crisis, President Bush will end his eight-year presidency on Jan. 20.