Bush 'deeply troubled' by attack

US PRESIDENT George W Bush reprimanded Israel for yesterday's attack on a senior Hamas leader that killed a bystander and a bodyguard, warning that such a strike "does not contribute to the security of Israel".

The strike came less than a week after Mr Bush launched the "road map" toward Middle East peace he helped craft at a summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

"The president is deeply troubled by the strike of helicopter gunships that reportedly killed at least two persons and wounded 20 others," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

"The president is concerned that this strike will undermine efforts by Palestinian authorities to bring an end to terrorist attacks, and it does not contribute to the security of Israel."

Mr Abbas denounced the helicopter strike as a "criminal and terrorist" Israeli attack, and said that the United States should intervene.