A man suspected of throwing a grenade towards US President George W. Bush has been arrested in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. A gun battle broke out as security forces raided a property in Tbilisi. It left one policeman dead and the suspect wounded.

Authorities say the man - named as Vladimir Arutyunov - escaped to a nearby wood, where he was captured. The dramatic developments come after Georgia's Interior Ministry increased the reward on offer for information about their prime suspect. The security scare blighted a trip in May intended to show George W. Bush's support for Georgia's West-leaning government, which came to power after a democratic revolution.

US officials said the grenade only failed to explode because of a malfunction.

PHOTO CAPTION

A handout combo picture shows a man suspected of throwing a grenade, which failed to explode, at a podium where U.S. President George W. Bush was speaking during his visit to Georgia in May, released by Georgian authorities in Tbilisi, July 18, 2005. (Reuters)