The White House has issued a strongly worded statement condemning reported attacks by Russian aircraft on a remote region of Georgia which has further strained relations between the two ex-Soviet states. President George W Bush's spokesman said he was deeply concerned about the "credible" reports and regretted the loss of life and violation of Georgian sovereignty. Russia has denied that its air force mounted the attack and suggested it may have been part of a security operation by US-trained Georgian troops due to begin on Sunday. Georgia's lawless Pankisi Gorge region, which borders Chechnya, has long been regarded by Russia as a base for Chechen rebels while the US suspects Islamic militants of operating there. "The United States is deeply concerned about credible reports that Russian military aircraft indiscriminately bombed villages in northern Georgia on August 23, resulting in the killing of civilians," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. Russia, he said, was stoking tension with Georgia by violating its sovereignty and issuing a denial which "belied" assurances that it respected Georgian independence. Asked if Saturday's rebuke affected President Bush's relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Fleischer said they had not soured and it would be wrong to "read more into it than what it says". (BBC)