Britain‘s Prime Minister Gordon Brown, second right, greets President George W. Bush, second left, with their wives, Laura Bush at right and Sarah Brown at left on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, London, Sunday, June, 15, 2008. Heading into two days of talks, U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown plan to swap strategies on how to reduce their military forces in Iraq and halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions.Photo:AP
An anti-war demonstrator pulled over a barrier by police in Parliament Square as US President George W. Bush begins his two-day visit to the British capital on June 15, 2008. Bush arrived in Britain earlier in the day for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Iran and other issues, as both sides vigorously denied any rift over troop levels in Iraq.Getty Images
People take part in an anti-war demonstration in Parliament Square as US President George W. Bush begins his two-day visit to London on June 15, 2008. Bush arrived in Britain earlier in the day for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Iran and other issues, as both sides vigorously denied any rift over troop levels in Iraq.Getty Images
People take part in an anti-war demonstration in Parliament Square as US President George W. Bush begins his two-day visit to London on June 15, 2008. Bush arrived in Britain earlier in the day for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Iran and other issues, as both sides vigorously denied any rift over troop levels in Iraq.Getty Images
Members of the ‘Stop the War Coalition’ protest outside Windsor Castle during US President George W. Bush’s visit, in Windsor, Berkshire, west of London, on June 15, 2008. US President George W. Bush arrived in Britain on Sunday to meet Queen Elizabeth II and hold talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on issues including Iraq and Iran’s suspect nuclear programme. Bush, whose presidential Air Force One airplane landed just after 1:50 pm (1250 GMT), came to Britain after stops in Slovenia, Germany, Italy, the Vatican and France on a European farewell trip.Getty Images
A George Bush mask and cowboy hat are seen during an anti war demonstration in Parliament Square as US President George W Bush begins his two day visit to London on June 15, 2008. George W. Bush arrived in Britain for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Iran and other issues, as both sides vigorously denied any rift over troop levels in Iraq.Getty Images
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Rusuhan anti-Bush
LONDON 16 Jun – Penunjuk perasaan bergelut dengan polis pencegah rusuhan di tengah ibu kota ini semalam semasa Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS), George W. Bush mengadakan rundingan dengan Perdana Menteri Britain, Gordon Brown.
Isu Iran dan Iraq menjadi agenda utama rundingan semasa makan malam di Downing Street itu, sementara kedua-dua pemimpin dijadual mengadakan rundingan lebih rasmi hari ini, sebelum Bush berlepas ke Ireland Utara dan kemudian pulang ke tanah air.
Bush juga akan bersarapan dengan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tony Blair yang merupakan sekutu utama Bush semasa melancarkan perang ke atas Iraq pada 2003.
Sokongan Blair itu telah mencetuskan protes di seluruh dunia dan menyebabkan perbalahan diplomatik berlarutan.
Protes jarang berlaku semasa lawatan Bush ke Eropah sejak seminggu lalu yang telah membawa beliau ke Slovenia, Jerman, Itali, Vatican City dan Perancis.
Bagaimanapun pergelutan meletus selepas penunjuk perasaan cuba merempuh sekatan polis yang menutup Whitehall, jalan utama yang dibarisi pejabat-pejabat kerajaan di tengah London, tempat kedua-dua pemimpin itu bertemu.
Kira-kira 13 orang ditangkap dalam pergelutan itu meskipun situasi kembali tenang sebelum berakhirnya pertemuan di Downing Street malam tadi.
Bush memulakan lawatannya dengan menghadiri majlis minum petang bersama Ratu Elizabeth II di Windsor.
Sebelum ketibaan Bush di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Heathrow di sini, pegawai tinggi kedua-dua negara terpaksa menyangkal laporan akhbar yang mendakwa beliau akan memberi amaran kepada Brown supaya jangan terburu-buru mengundurkan askar Britain dari Iraq.
“Tiada persetujuan antara Presiden Bush dengan Perdana Menteri, Brown mengenai isu ini,” kata Penasihat Keselamatan Negara AS, Stephen Hadley.
Menurutnya, rundingan akan tertumpu kepada usaha mengetatkan sekatan ke atas Iran berhubung keengganan negara itu membekukan program nuklearnya.- AFP
