Washington: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) today (April 15, 2004) said that its director, George Tenet, personally briefed President George W Bush in August 2001, countering a statement Tenet made to the commission investigating the September 11 attacks.

"We looked at his schedule," a CIA spokeswoman said. "Mr Tenet did fly down to Texas and briefed the President on August 17."

He also briefed Bush on August 31 in Washington, she added.

Tenet briefed Bush at least six times in the first eight days of September 2001 as well, the spokeswoman said.

And "the whole time that President Bush was in Texas", vacationing on his ranch, he had a senior CIA analyst with him and received a daily report from the CIA, she said.

Tenet yesterday told the commission he did not meet with Bush in August 2001.