Washington: US President George W Bush again praised the Columbia astronauts, including India-born Kalpana Chawla, who lost their lives in the space shuttle disaster, saying God was present in their hearts.

"We mourn the loss of seven brave souls," he said during the national prayer breakfast on February 6.

"We learned a lot about them over the last couple of days, and Laura and I learned a lot about their families in Houston, because we met with them. My impressions of the meeting was that almighty God was present in their hearts," Bush commented.

"There was such incredible strength in the room of those who were grieving that it was overwhelming, to be with those who just lost their husband or wife or dad or mom, and to feel the presence of the Almighty."

Alluding to the Iraq crisis, he said the US was passing through testing time.

"At this hour we have troops that are assembling in the Middle East. There's oppressive regimes that seek terrible weapons. We face an ongoing threat of terror. One is for certain: We didn't ask for those challenges, but we will meet them," he said.

"We believe, as Franklin Roosevelt said, that men and women born to freedom in the image of God will not forever suffer the oppressor's sword. We're confident that people in every part of the world wish for freedom, not tyranny."

PTI