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| Protesters greet Bush's UK visit | Protesters greet Bush's UK visit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President George Bush has begun a two-day visit to the UK as part of his final European tour before he leaves office in January. | US President George Bush has begun a two-day visit to the UK as part of his final European tour before he leaves office in January. |
| Mr Bush met the Queen at Windsor Castle before he and his wife, Laura, dined with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, at Downing Street. | |
| His visit was met by hundreds of anti-war protestors in central London. | |
| When the two leaders meet formally on Monday they are expected to focus on the Middle East, fuel and food prices. | |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge said the dinner was more social than political, "designed to set the mood for a visit that both countries would clearly want to be about more than Mr Bush taking leave of Britain as he heads for the end of his presidency". | |
| Monday's talks are also likely to cover Iran and its nuclear ambitions, as well as the global fuel and food crises. | |
| Mr Bush is also to meet former prime minister Tony Blair in his capacity as Middle East envoy. | |
| 'War criminal' | 'War criminal' |
| Shortly before the US president met Mr Brown, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square to shout: "George Bush - terrorist". | |
| The protest rally was organised by the Stop War Coalition, CND and the British Muslim Initiative. | The protest rally was organised by the Stop War Coalition, CND and the British Muslim Initiative. |
| The demonstrators had planned to march to Downing Street, but police closed down Whitehall and used heavy reinforcements to ensure the metal barrier they erected was not breached. | The demonstrators had planned to march to Downing Street, but police closed down Whitehall and used heavy reinforcements to ensure the metal barrier they erected was not breached. |
| While the protest was modest in size compared with previous crowds that turned out to demonstrate against Mr Bush, there were a few scuffles. | |
| When demonstrators pushed forward, police brandished batons and three people were arrested. | When demonstrators pushed forward, police brandished batons and three people were arrested. |
| Andrew Burgin, a spokesman for the coalition, which earlier staged a small demonstration outside Windsor Castle, said: "We think Bush is a war criminal. Both Blair and Bush are responsible by duplicity and lying for an illegal invasion of Iraq." | |
| Cakes and sandwiches | |
| Mr Bush's 45-minute tea meeting with the Queen was billed by Buckingham Palace as a "private and informal" visit between "old friends". | |
| In pictures: Bush in Britain | In pictures: Bush in Britain |
| They were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, American ambassador Robert Tuttle and his wife, Maria. | They were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, American ambassador Robert Tuttle and his wife, Maria. |
| Their traditional tea of cakes and finger sandwiches was followed by a brief photo call in St George's Hall in Windsor Castle. | Their traditional tea of cakes and finger sandwiches was followed by a brief photo call in St George's Hall in Windsor Castle. |
| Mr Bush is the first US president to visit Windsor since Ronald Regan was pictured riding with the Queen in 1982. | Mr Bush is the first US president to visit Windsor since Ronald Regan was pictured riding with the Queen in 1982. |
| The president's short visit, which comes at the end of a six-day European tour, involves a large security operation, involving 1,200 Metropolitan Police officers each day. | |
| Mr Bush also travels with his own extensive protection team, including the presidential motorcade vehicles. | Mr Bush also travels with his own extensive protection team, including the presidential motorcade vehicles. |
| Large swathes of central London are expected to be closed at varying times to accommodate the visit and police say they were prepared for the planned protest. | Large swathes of central London are expected to be closed at varying times to accommodate the visit and police say they were prepared for the planned protest. |
| In advance of his arrival, Mr Bush told the Observer newspaper the US and UK want to withdraw troops but this should be "based on success" and not a "definitive timetable". | In advance of his arrival, Mr Bush told the Observer newspaper the US and UK want to withdraw troops but this should be "based on success" and not a "definitive timetable". |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI do not think Bush's visit is worthwhile. I am proud to be an American, but I am ashamed of Bush. He hasn't done any good for anybody.Ken Jones, Lincoln, USASend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI do not think Bush's visit is worthwhile. I am proud to be an American, but I am ashamed of Bush. He hasn't done any good for anybody.Ken Jones, Lincoln, USASend us your comments |
| His comments follow reports that a final pull-out of the UK's remaining 4,500 troops could be signalled by the end of the year. | His comments follow reports that a final pull-out of the UK's remaining 4,500 troops could be signalled by the end of the year. |
| The president said he was confident that, like him, Mr Brown would listen to the commanders "to make sure that the sacrifices that have gone forward won't be unravelled by draw-downs that may not be warranted". | |
| But the Ministry of Defence has said no decision has been taken on troop withdrawals. | |