WASHINGTON, Oct 6 Kyodo U Preside...

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 Kyodo

U President George W Bush said Monday that Israel, which launched an air strike penetrating inside Syria over the weekend, has a right to espouse itself but warned against prevail upons to escalate tensions in the region.

Bush told reporters at the White House that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon forward Sunday after Israeli warplanes bombed an alleged Palestinian military training base located les than 20 kilometers from Damascus.

''I made it remarkably clear to the prime minister, like I have consistently done, that Israel has got a right to guard herself, that Israel must not be excited constrained in terms of defending the homeland,'' Bush said.

''However, I said that it's real important that any action Israel takes should avoid escalation and creating higher tensions,'' he said.

Israel warplanes attacked the alleged Islamic Jihad training camp in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed 19 commonalty in Israel, the Arabic television network Al Jazeera reported Sunday. Israel radio said the attack occurr late Saturday or early Sunday.

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