US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has slammed Democrat front-runner Barack Obama for his remarks on "bombing" Pakistan on the pursuit of Al Qaeda [Images], saying it was better to make plans and work with the country, which is an "ally" rather than announcing "unilateral action".

The Arizona Senator, who moved closer to clinching a nomination after this week's primary triumphs, also criticised Obama by saying that one of the first rules of national security policy is not to go around broadcasting potential actions that a president might or might not take.

McCain, who has sharpened attacks on Obama after he emerged as the Democrat front-runner, was asked at a press meet in Ohio why he had referred in his victory speech the remarks of the Senator that he would be invading Pakistan.

"I said bombing. ...my statement that I made at my speech was that he suggested bombing Pakistan without their permission," he replied.

Pointed out that Obama had made his comments only in the context of going after Al Qaeda targets he remarked, "That's still bombing Pakistan."

He said, "The best idea is to not broadcast what you're going to do. That's naive. You don't broadcast that you are going to bomb a country that is a sovereign nation and that you are dependent on the goodwill of the people of that country to help you in the war.

I believe in working with the other country to both countries' mutual national security interests and not announcing unilateral action. You make plans and you work with the country that is your ally and friend, which Pakistan is."

Asked about a recent US missile attack inside Pakistan with media reports suggesting President Pervez Musharraf [Images] was informed only as the operation was underway, he said, "I know that we will continue to not broadcast that we're going to attack another country when I'm president of the US."