Bush disappointed by bailout vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday he was disappointed that the House of Representatives voted down a $700 billion (387 billion pound) plan to rescue the financial system but said he would continue to confront the problem head-on.

"I was disappointed in the vote that the United States Congress (had) on the economic rescue plan," Bush told reporters after a meeting with Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko. "We put forth a plan that was big because we've got a big problem."

As the markets plummeted after the House voted down the rescue package negotiated between the administration and lawmakers, Bush said he would meet with his economic advisers and work with congressional leaders to plot a way forward.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the administration's lead negotiator with lawmakers to draw up the rescue plan, was seen entering the West Wing of the White House shortly before Bush's meeting with Ukraine's leader ended.

"Our strategy is to continue to address this economic situation head-on and we'll be working to develop a strategy that will enable us to continue to move forward," Bush said.

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, Editing by Dan Grebler)