The attack on the policemen - who had been travelling in a car crossing a bridge near the village of Rosslea on Saturday morning and were only slightly injured - been described as "a beliberate attempt to murder".

Details about the attack was only released this afternoon as US President George Bush arrived in Northern Ireland on a brief visit for talks with First Minister Peter Robinson and the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

The dissident republican group, Continuity IRA, claimed they were responsible.

Its understood the officers escaped cuts and bruises, but suffered hearing difficulties because of the noise and force of the blast at Rellan Road.

Police said it was a deliberate attempt to murder the officers who were carrying out inquiries in the area at the time.

The area had been cordoned off since Saturday while Army bomb disposal officers dealt with the device which consisted of a substantial amount of home made explosives and placed under a bridge with a command wire leading for a firing point some distance away.

Chief Superintendent Michael Skuce said: "This was a determined attempt to kill police officers in Fermanagh. The fact that it failed is something for which we should all give thanks.

"My officers were on duty in Rosslea in the early hours of Saturday morning, providing a service to the local community. They do so without fear or favour to everyone in our community.

"Their dedication to the community stands in sharp contrast to the depraved actions of those individuals who planned and carried out this attack.

"Those individuals, who operate under various flags of convenience to justify their misguided attempts to inflict death and injury, have nothing to offer anyone in our community.