Hungary foils plot to kill Israeli President

THREE Arabs have been arrested in Budapest on suspicion they tried to kill Israeli President Moshe Katsav during his three-day visit to Hungary.

Hungarian media said the assailant intended to kill the president.

Police in Budapest arrested three men they said were planning the attack. It came as Katsav, Israel's ceremonial leader, arrived in the Hungary for a three day visit.

Officials at the Israeli embassy in Budapest said they had been told that three Arab men had been detained so far for planning a bomb attack against the president.

A spokeswoman in Katsav's office in Jerusalem said Hungarian authorities told the president that he was the target.

She had no information on the nature of the attack or how close the suspects got to carrying it out.

"They're all right. That's what we're concerned about," the spokeswoman said.

Y-Net, the website affiliated with the Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper, quoted Hungarian police as saying they had thwarted an attempt on Katsav's life.

Katsav learned about the plot during a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart.

He said, after talks with President Ferenc Madl, that he was aware of the police actions but was confident in the security arrangements for his protection.

"I trust in the Hungarian security forces and I trust in the Israeli security forces," Katsav said. "I jokingly told President Madl that it would be better if he stays three steps away me."

Katsav's office said he would continue with his visit according to schedule. During the trip, he will participate in the inauguration of Hungary's first Holocaust memorial centre.