U.S. President George W. Bush was taken ill on the final day of a Group of Eight summit but his condition is not serious, a White House aide said on Friday.

White House counsellor Dan Bartlett said Bush had a stomach ailment which he described as "not serious". Bush hopes to return to meetings at the summit later in the day.

He said they were "not sure if it's something that he ate last night or this morning".

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"The president right now is resting and is going to recuperate a bit and join the leaders on the remaining agenda today as quickly as possible," Bartlett told reporters.

Despite his illness, Bush decided to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in his private quarters. The new French leader confirmed Bush was not on top form.

"I have just come out of a meeting with President Bush who is slightly unwell," Sarkozy told reporters. "He will join the working session when he can."

The final meetings at the 3-day summit will focus on aid to Africa and cooperation with the rest of the developing world