Moscow: The current spate of terror attacks in Iraq is aimed at scuttling the US President George W Bush's re-election bid, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today (Oct 18, 2004).

"International terrorists aim to cause maximum damage to Bush.... to not allow his election for a second term," Putin said in a press conference in Tajik capital Dushanbe.

Terrorists will celebrate as their victory if Bush is defeated, he said.

"If the international terrorists achieve their goal and Bush is not elected for the second term, they would ofcourse celebrate their victory not only over him, but also as at least a tactical victory over America."

"We have to understand that such a case will provide an additional impulse to international terrorism and boost its strength," Putin said.

In his televised press conference after the Central Asian Cooperation Summit, Putin also criticised the US invasion on Iraq.

"It is well known that Russia was against military action in Iraq. Even today our views considerably differ with Bush," Putin said.

Expressing Moscow's willingness to work with "any elected President" of United States, Putin declined to comment on Bush's Democratic rival John Kerry.