Bush suffers minor injuries in fall from bicycle

US President George W Bush suffered minor abrasions after falling off a mountain bike on his Texas ranch yesterday, the White House said.

The 57-year-old president had cycled 16 miles of a bike course when he toppled over while riding downhill on soil loosened by recent rainfall, White House spokesman Mr Trent Duffy told reporters.

"He had minor abrasions and scratches on his chin, upper lip, his nose, right hand and both knees," Mr Duffy said.

He added that Mr Bush's physician Dr Richard Tubb was with the president, cleaned up the wounds and reported that he was fine.

Mr Bush is to make a major televised speech tomorrow night on his strategy for Iraq ahead of the June 30th deadline for transferring sovereignty to Iraqis.

Mr Bush, who was wearing a safety helmet and mouth guard during the bike ride, declined the offer of a car ride home from Secret Service agents and instead pedaled the remaining mile to his house, Mr Duffy said.

"It's been raining a lot. the topsoil was loose," the White House spokesman noted.