Police detained a man yesterday suspected of planning a terrorist attack that officials close to Israeli President Moshe Katsav said was directed at the visiting head of the Jewish state.

　　Budapest police would not say whether the planned attack was linked to Katsav's visit. But a spokeswoman in Katsav's office in Jerusalem said Hungarian authorities told the president that he was the target.

　　She had no information on the nature of the attack or how close the suspect got to carrying it out.

　　"They're all right. That's what we're concerned about," the spokeswoman said, speaking on condition of anonymity and alluding to Katsav and his delegation.

　　Katsav learned about the plot during a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Israel radio reported.

　　In Budapest, police spokesman Attila Petofi said only that "one man has been detained and he is suspected of preparing a terrorist act."

　　Officials at the Israeli Embassy in Budapest, however, said they had been told that three Arab men had been detained for planning a bomb attack against the Israeli president.

　　Katsav told reporters after a meeting with Hungarian President Ferenc Madl that he was aware of the police actions but was confident in the security arrangements for his protection.

　　"I trust in the Hungarian security forces and I trust in the Israeli security forces," Katsav said. "I jokingly told President Madl that it would be better if he stays three steps away me."

　　(The Associated Press)