White House officials said Friday they were puzzled by criticism from French President Nicolas Sarkozy of President George W. Bush just hours before the two leaders were due to meet here.

Sarkozy on Thursday appeared to chide Bush for his actions during the brief, bloody conflict between Russia and Georgia earlier this year.

`When on August 8 someone had to leave for Moscow or Tbilisi, who defended human rights?` Sarkozy asked rhetorically at a ceremony in the Elysee palace.

`Was it the president of the United States who said `This is unacceptable`? Or was it France which kept up dialogue` between Russian and Georgian leaders, he asked.

But White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: `I am not sure what President Sarkozy is talking about. President Bush has been and is committed to resolving the issue between Russia and Georgia.`

Johndroe also said he did not understand comments by Sarkozy on Friday during an EU-Russia summit in which the French leader criticized a US decision to send warships to the Black Sea during the crisis.

`I do not know what warships he is referring to, but I think the people of Georgia greatly appreciated the US Navy ships that delivered much needed humanitarian supplies to them,` Johndroe told AFP.

Sarkozy was among world leaders attending the summit of the Group of 20 in Washington to discuss the global economic crisis. The talks were to begin with a dinner later Friday.