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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bush and Howard in Sydney talks | Bush and Howard in Sydney talks |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Iraq, security and climate change were on the agenda as Australian Prime Minister John Howard held talks with ally US President George W Bush. | Iraq, security and climate change were on the agenda as Australian Prime Minister John Howard held talks with ally US President George W Bush. |
| At a joint news conference, Mr Howard pledged support for the Iraq mission, while Mr Bush told journalists he saw signs of reconciliation there. | At a joint news conference, Mr Howard pledged support for the Iraq mission, while Mr Bush told journalists he saw signs of reconciliation there. |
| Mr Bush also addressed America's "complex" ties with China and hit out at Burma's military leaders. | Mr Bush also addressed America's "complex" ties with China and hit out at Burma's military leaders. |
| The men are meeting in Sydney ahead of an summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. | The men are meeting in Sydney ahead of an summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. |
| Top officials from the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) have been gathering all week amid some of the tightest security the city has ever seen. | Top officials from the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) have been gathering all week amid some of the tightest security the city has ever seen. |
| Map of key locations | Map of key locations |
| The leaders meet on Saturday, but trade and foreign ministers from the member states have begun two days of talks set to focus on economic and security issues. | The leaders meet on Saturday, but trade and foreign ministers from the member states have begun two days of talks set to focus on economic and security issues. |
| Staunch ally | Staunch ally |
| Mr Bush, who arrived in Australia from Iraq, is due to spend much of the day with Mr Howard. | Mr Bush, who arrived in Australia from Iraq, is due to spend much of the day with Mr Howard. |
| Early in the day, the two sides signed a deal to upgrade defence ties, under which the US will allow Australia more access to secret military technology. | Early in the day, the two sides signed a deal to upgrade defence ties, under which the US will allow Australia more access to secret military technology. |
| If I didn't think we could succeed, I wouldn't have our troops there George W Bush Iraqis fail US targets class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6980372.stm">In pictures: Apec summit | |
| They also discussed Iraq, with Mr Bush saying: "It's important, in my judgement, for the security of America or for the security of Australia, that we hang in there with the Iraqis and help them," said Bush. | They also discussed Iraq, with Mr Bush saying: "It's important, in my judgement, for the security of America or for the security of Australia, that we hang in there with the Iraqis and help them," said Bush. |
| Mr Howard, a staunch ally of the US president, added that Australia remained committed to the mission in Iraq. | Mr Howard, a staunch ally of the US president, added that Australia remained committed to the mission in Iraq. |
| "Australian forces will remain at their present levels in Iraq, not based on any calendar but based on conditions on the ground," he said. | "Australian forces will remain at their present levels in Iraq, not based on any calendar but based on conditions on the ground," he said. |
| The Australian leader is facing a general election by the end of the year. | The Australian leader is facing a general election by the end of the year. |
| Polls show him trailing opposition leader Kevin Rudd, who wants to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq. Mr Bush is expected to meet Mr Rudd on Thursday. | Polls show him trailing opposition leader Kevin Rudd, who wants to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq. Mr Bush is expected to meet Mr Rudd on Thursday. |
| 'Tyrannical behaviour' | 'Tyrannical behaviour' |
| The US leader also used the joint news conference to urge Chinese participation in forming global policy on climate change. | The US leader also used the joint news conference to urge Chinese participation in forming global policy on climate change. |
| "In order for there to be an effective climate change policy, China needs to be at the table," he said. | "In order for there to be an effective climate change policy, China needs to be at the table," he said. |
| He said he planned to discuss the issue with Chinese President Hu Jintao in bilateral talks later this week. | He said he planned to discuss the issue with Chinese President Hu Jintao in bilateral talks later this week. |
| In pictures: Fence built | In pictures: Fence built |
| But he would not confirm whether he would raise US allegations that the Chinese military hacked into the Pentagon's computer network, describing ties with China as "complex". | But he would not confirm whether he would raise US allegations that the Chinese military hacked into the Pentagon's computer network, describing ties with China as "complex". |
| He also condemned a recent crackdown by Burma's military leaders on protesters demonstrating against a fuel price rise. | He also condemned a recent crackdown by Burma's military leaders on protesters demonstrating against a fuel price rise. |
| "It's inexcusable that we've got this kind of tyrannical behaviour in Asia," he said. | "It's inexcusable that we've got this kind of tyrannical behaviour in Asia," he said. |
| As the two men met, a two-day closed-door meeting of trade and foreign ministers got under way at a convention centre on Sydney harbour. | As the two men met, a two-day closed-door meeting of trade and foreign ministers got under way at a convention centre on Sydney harbour. |
| Food and product safety, North Korea and efforts to revive global trade talks are expected to be on the agenda. | Food and product safety, North Korea and efforts to revive global trade talks are expected to be on the agenda. |
| Security is extremely high for the summit, with security forces braced for violent protests. | Security is extremely high for the summit, with security forces braced for violent protests. |
| A 5km (three-mile) barrier has been erected across the city's central business district and more than 5,000 police and troops are patrolling the streets. | A 5km (three-mile) barrier has been erected across the city's central business district and more than 5,000 police and troops are patrolling the streets. |
| Return to story | Return to story |