Bush: Russian response to Georgia "disproportionate"

BEIJING, Aug 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday he had expressed grave concern to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin about what Bush called Russia's "disproportionate response" against Georgia in the South Ossetia conflict.

Bush, in an interview with NBC Sports on his final day at the Beijing Olympics, said that in a discussion with Putin on Friday at the Games he had told the Russian leader, "This violence is unacceptable" and had urged that all troops return to the August 6 "status quo ante."

"I was very firm with Vladimir Putin," Bush said. He said he made similar comments in a phone call with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)