Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has told a US newspaper that he was "shocked" by US President George W. Bush's endorsement of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan and warned of an escalation of tension in the Middle East.

In an interview published by the Houston Chronicle on Friday, Mubarak said he tried to explain Arab leaders' concerns about the Israeli plan during a meeting with Bush at his Crawford ranch on Monday, but had no idea that Bush would take a position so supportive of Israel.

"Now we don't know what is going to happen," Mubarak said. "I'mafraid there is going to be more escalation of tension, much more violence."

To counter the perception among Arabs that his administration is biased, Bush "must find some formula to give another impression," Mubarak added.

After meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday,Bush made a statement endorsing Israel's plan to keep some settlements in the West Bank. He also ruled out the possibility ofPalestinian refugees' return to lands lost to Israel in 1948.

The statement has been seen as a historic policy shift of the US administration and has drawn sharp criticism from the Palestinians.

Source: Xinhua