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Obama arrives in UK ahead of G20 Obama arrives in UK ahead of G20
(20 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has arrived in the United Kingdom for his first major foreign trip since taking office in January. US President Barack Obama has arrived in the UK for his first major foreign trip since taking office in January.
Mr Obama's first stop is London where he is due to attend the G20 summit hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Mr Obama's first stop is London where he is to attend the G20 summit hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He will also join leaders at a Nato summit on the French-German border and visit the Czech Republic and Turkey.He will also join leaders at a Nato summit on the French-German border and visit the Czech Republic and Turkey.
Mr Obama's mission will be to restore the US' lead diplomatic role, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb. Much is riding on the trip, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb, as the US is seen by other nations as the catalyst for global economic recovery.
Busy scheduleBusy schedule
President Obama was met at Stansted Airport, north of London, by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and a senior official from the US Embassy.President Obama was met at Stansted Airport, north of London, by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and a senior official from the US Embassy.
He then boarded the presidential helicopter Marine One to make the short journey to central London where he will stay at the US ambassador's residence.He then boarded the presidential helicopter Marine One to make the short journey to central London where he will stay at the US ambassador's residence.
Before the start of the G20 summit of world leaders on Thursday, Mr Obama will hold extensive talks with Gordon Brown, meet the UK opposition leader David Cameron and have a private audience with the Queen.Before the start of the G20 summit of world leaders on Thursday, Mr Obama will hold extensive talks with Gordon Brown, meet the UK opposition leader David Cameron and have a private audience with the Queen.
The president is also scheduled to hold bi-lateral meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.The president is also scheduled to hold bi-lateral meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
OBAMA'S EUROPEAN TRIP Tuesday: Arrives in LondonWednesday: Mr and Mrs Obama breakfast with the Browns at 10 Downing Street; Mr Obama holds talks with Gordon Brown; meets Russian and Chinese presidents, David Cameron, and the QueenThursday: G20 summit; Mr Obama will also meet the Indian PM, the South Korean president and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the dayFriday: Departs for Strasbourg; meets French president; holds town-hall meeting; visits German Chancellor in Baden-Baden, returns to StrasbourgSaturday: Attends Nato summit in Strasbourg; departs for PragueSunday: Attends EU-US summit, departs for AnkaraMonday: Departs Ankara for US Justin Webb: Back in the UK OBAMA'S EUROPEAN TRIP Tuesday: Arrives in LondonWednesday: Mr and Mrs Obama breakfast with the Browns at 10 Downing Street; Mr Obama holds talks with Gordon Brown; meets Russian and Chinese presidents, David Cameron, and the QueenThursday: G20 summit; Mr Obama will also meet the Indian PM, the South Korean president and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the dayFriday: Departs for Strasbourg; meets French president; holds town-hall meeting; visits German Chancellor in Baden-Baden, returns to StrasbourgSaturday: Attends Nato summit in Strasbourg; departs for PragueSunday: Attends EU-US summit, departs for AnkaraMonday: Departs Ankara for US Justin Webb: Back in the UK
The president's wife, Michelle Obama, will take part in a series of engagements with Sarah Brown, the prime minister's wife.The president's wife, Michelle Obama, will take part in a series of engagements with Sarah Brown, the prime minister's wife.
Mr Brown is keen for world leaders to reach agreement on a new set of rules for regulating global finance as well as measures to boost economic demand and support poorer countries.Mr Brown is keen for world leaders to reach agreement on a new set of rules for regulating global finance as well as measures to boost economic demand and support poorer countries.
According to UK officials, the prime minister spoke to the president on the phone during his flight to "identify outstanding remaining issues" ahead of the gathering of world leaders.According to UK officials, the prime minister spoke to the president on the phone during his flight to "identify outstanding remaining issues" ahead of the gathering of world leaders.
The call was an "opportunity for both of them to take stock of where we were," a No 10 spokesman said.The call was an "opportunity for both of them to take stock of where we were," a No 10 spokesman said.
Our correspondent says President Obama will assert that the US has changed, that America is willing to listen and engage, but he will also insist that America still has the capacity to pull the world in the right direction.
A White House spokesman stressed the president would "listen in London as well as lead".A White House spokesman stressed the president would "listen in London as well as lead".
Our correspondent says President Obama will assert that the US has changed - that America is willing to listen and engage, but he will also insist that America still has the capacity to pull the world in the right direction.
Speaking earlier at a gathering of religious leaders at St Paul's Cathedral, Mr Brown called for the "values that we celebrate in everyday life" to be brought to the financial markets.Speaking earlier at a gathering of religious leaders at St Paul's Cathedral, Mr Brown called for the "values that we celebrate in everyday life" to be brought to the financial markets.
"I believe that unsupervised globalisation of our financial markets did not only cross national boundaries, it crossed moral boundaries too," Mr Brown said."I believe that unsupervised globalisation of our financial markets did not only cross national boundaries, it crossed moral boundaries too," Mr Brown said.
But with two days to go before the London summit, further splits are emerging on how to tackle the economic crisis.But with two days to go before the London summit, further splits are emerging on how to tackle the economic crisis.
The French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, told the BBC that France would walk away from any agreement if the US and the UK were not prepared to accept a stronger financial regulator.The French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, told the BBC that France would walk away from any agreement if the US and the UK were not prepared to accept a stronger financial regulator.
Summit countdownSummit countdown
G20 countries are also divided over the size of their respective stimulus packages.G20 countries are also divided over the size of their respective stimulus packages.
Some US commentators have called on European governments to increase the size of their stimulus efforts.Some US commentators have called on European governments to increase the size of their stimulus efforts.
G20 LONDON SUMMIT World leaders will meet later this week in London to discuss measures to tackle the downturn. See our in-depth guide to the G20 summit.The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the US and the EU. Q&A: G20 Summit Have Your Say: Global Reform G20 LONDON SUMMIT World leaders will meet later this week in London to discuss measures to tackle the downturn. See our in-depth guide to the G20 summit.The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the US and the EU. Q&A: G20 Summit Have Your Say: Global Reform
In response, some European leaders have argued that the economic crisis began in the US, and that America's stimulus package should therefore be more robust than other nations'.In response, some European leaders have argued that the economic crisis began in the US, and that America's stimulus package should therefore be more robust than other nations'.
"This crisis started in the United States," said Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker last week."This crisis started in the United States," said Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker last week.
"The Anglo-Saxon world has always refused to add the dose of regulation which financial markets, the international financial system needed," he added."The Anglo-Saxon world has always refused to add the dose of regulation which financial markets, the international financial system needed," he added.
There are signs of agreement on other issues, however.There are signs of agreement on other issues, however.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is reported to have said that chances were high that deals - for example, to regulate hedge funds - would be reached.German Chancellor Angela Merkel is reported to have said that chances were high that deals - for example, to regulate hedge funds - would be reached.
On Friday, Mr Obama will travel to Strasbourg, France, where he will hold talks with French President Nicholas Sarkozy, and stage a "town hall"-style meeting, before heading over the border to Baden-Baden in Germany for a meeting with Ms Merkel.On Friday, Mr Obama will travel to Strasbourg, France, where he will hold talks with French President Nicholas Sarkozy, and stage a "town hall"-style meeting, before heading over the border to Baden-Baden in Germany for a meeting with Ms Merkel.
He will also attend the Nato summit on Saturday in Strasbourg, where talks are expected to focus on the ongoing military operations in Afghanistan.He will also attend the Nato summit on Saturday in Strasbourg, where talks are expected to focus on the ongoing military operations in Afghanistan.
Mr Obama will then head off to the Czech Republic to attend the EU-US summit, before travelling on to the Turkish capital, Ankara.Mr Obama will then head off to the Czech Republic to attend the EU-US summit, before travelling on to the Turkish capital, Ankara.
It will be Mr Obama's first trip to an Islamic country since he entered the White House.It will be Mr Obama's first trip to an Islamic country since he entered the White House.