WASHINGTON, June 5 (Xinhuanet)-- US President George W. Bush who is visiting Europe has been notified of the death of former president Ronald Reagan, the White House said Saturday.

    Spokeswoman Claire Buchan, who is accompanying Bush on his trip,told reporters in Paris that Bush was informed of Reagan's death at about 4:10 p.m. EDT (2010 GMT) by White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, according to reports monitored here.

    The US flag over the White House was lowered to half mast within an hour of Reagan's passing away, reports said.

    President Bush will reportedly issue a statement later Saturday.

    Reagan, who served as the 40th US president from 1981 to 1989, died at the age of 93 at his home in California on Saturday after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for nearly a decade. Enditem