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| Protesters greet Bush's UK visit | Protesters greet Bush's UK visit |
| (40 minutes 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 Downing Street 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 towards the end of his presidency". | |
| I have absolutely no problem how Gordon Brown is managing the Iraqi effort President George Bush | |
| Monday's talks are also likely to cover Iran and its nuclear ambitions, as well as the global fuel and food crises. | Monday's talks are also likely to cover Iran and its nuclear ambitions, as well as the global fuel and food crises. |
| Ahead of the talks Mr Bush told Sky News he was sorry "innocent civilians" had died in Iraq, but he was still certain the invasion was the right thing to do. | |
| He also downplayed suggestions of disagreement between Britain and the US on Iraq. | |
| "I have absolutely no problem how Gordon Brown is managing the Iraqi effort," he said. | |
| 'George Bush - terrorist' | |
| During his visit Mr Bush is also to meet former prime minister Tony Blair in his capacity as Middle East envoy. | |
| In pictures: Bush in Britain'Ousting Saddam was right' | |
| Shortly before the US president met Mr Brown, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square to shout: "George Bush - terrorist". | 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. 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." | 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 | 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". | Mr Bush's 45-minute tea meeting with the Queen was billed by Buckingham Palace as a "private and informal" visit between "old friends". |
| class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">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, USA class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4936&edition=1&ttl=20080615102546">Send us your comments | |
| 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. |
| The president's short UK 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 on Sunday. | |