Bush faces critics over handling of flood relief

US PRESIDENT George W Bush headed to the US Gulf Coast yesterday to confront a region where the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina were receding but anger and frustration still overflowed.

"I'm finding a lot of frustration, and it's a lot easier to deal with frustration than anger," said Vice Admiral Thad Allen, chief of staff of the US Coast Guard, who was put in charge of rescue and recovery on Friday.

Mr Bush's visit coincided with the fourth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington which killed 2,700 people. Then, he was able to unite and rally the nation. Now, he faces withering criticism for a bumbling governmental response to the August 29 hurricane and is suffering the lowest approval ratings of his presidency.