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Bush and Blair to talk on Iraq`s future
London, Nov 21: Against a backdrop of anti-war protests, US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair will map out Iraq`s future today and could strike a deal on British ``enemy combatants`` held by the United States.
London, Nov 21: Against a backdrop of anti-war protests, US
President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair will map out
Iraq's future today and could strike a deal on British ''enemy
combatants'' held by the United States.
Bush starts his day with a tour of Westminster Abbey - the burial
place of kings, statesmen, warriors and poets, presenting a
colourful pageant of British history.
He then meets families of British soldiers who were killed in the US-led war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Anti-war protesters, who have warmed up with limited marches in Central London over the past two days, vowed to stage their biggest anti-Bush demonstrations on Thursday, with estimates of up to 100,000 people taking to London's streets. About 600 protesters marched yesterday. Some poured red dye into a Trafalgar Square fountain as a symbol of bloodshed in Iraq. Others were filmed kicking and stomping on an image of Bush.
Bush will meet Blair, his closest ally in the war against Saddam, at his 10 Downing Street residence to discuss policy. Bush has lauded Blair as having ''good judgment and blunt counsel and backbone.''
The two leaders will take questions from reporters, with the issue of Britons held as ''enemy combatants'' at the US Military Detention Centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, likely to come up.
Nine Britons are held at Guantanamo, among 660 detainees held without charge at the naval base. Most were captured in operations in 2002 to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan or in the hunt for members of the al Qaeda network. Bureau Report
He then meets families of British soldiers who were killed in the US-led war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Anti-war protesters, who have warmed up with limited marches in Central London over the past two days, vowed to stage their biggest anti-Bush demonstrations on Thursday, with estimates of up to 100,000 people taking to London's streets. About 600 protesters marched yesterday. Some poured red dye into a Trafalgar Square fountain as a symbol of bloodshed in Iraq. Others were filmed kicking and stomping on an image of Bush.
Bush will meet Blair, his closest ally in the war against Saddam, at his 10 Downing Street residence to discuss policy. Bush has lauded Blair as having ''good judgment and blunt counsel and backbone.''
The two leaders will take questions from reporters, with the issue of Britons held as ''enemy combatants'' at the US Military Detention Centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, likely to come up.
Nine Britons are held at Guantanamo, among 660 detainees held without charge at the naval base. Most were captured in operations in 2002 to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan or in the hunt for members of the al Qaeda network. Bureau Report