12 Jan 2009

Bush rejected Israeli nuclear request - report

6:12 pm on 12 January 2009

A report in the New York Times says United States President George Bush rejected a secret request from Israel last year to help it attack Iran's main nuclear complex.

The report, based on interviews with unnamed officials, says Israel's request was for specialised bunker-busting bombs and permission to fly over Iraq to reach Iran's complex at Natanz.

The New York Times says that, instead of agreeing to the request, Mr Bush authorised covert US action aimed at sabotaging Iran's nuclear ambitions.