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Obama begins talks at White House Obama begins talks at White House
(9 minutes later)
US President-elect Barack Obama has arrived at the White House for his first meeting with George W Bush since his decisive election win last week.US President-elect Barack Obama has arrived at the White House for his first meeting with George W Bush since his decisive election win last week.
It is the first visit to the Oval Office for the incoming leader, who takes office on 20 January. The incoming and outgoing presidents shook hands and then made their way to the Oval Office - Mr Obama's first visit to the famous power hub.
Mr Bush said the two men would discuss the transition process, as well as thorny issues such as the war in Iraq and the global financial crisis. The two are expected to discuss the war in Iraq and the financial crisis.
Earlier, Mr Obama indicated he could reverse controversial Bush policies. They will also discuss how to effect a smooth transition until Mr Obama takes office on 20 January.
Mr Obama has already indicated he could reverse controversial Bush policies.
His transition chief, John Podesta, said executive orders on issues such as stem cell research and oil drilling were at odds with the president-elect's views.His transition chief, John Podesta, said executive orders on issues such as stem cell research and oil drilling were at odds with the president-elect's views.
Potential plans by the outgoing administration to pass a raft of last-minute regulations were also being watched, he said. Mr Obama also looks set to tackle US policy on the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, reports from the US say.
Mr Obama also looks set to tackle US policy on the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.
His advisors are reported to be putting together a plan to release a group of detainees and to transfer most of the rest to the American prison and courts system.
'Bipartisanship''Bipartisanship'
Mr Obama and his wife, Michelle, are both visiting the building that will be their new home.Mr Obama and his wife, Michelle, are both visiting the building that will be their new home.
The outgoing and incoming presidents walked together into the Oval Office for their discussions. Mrs Obama, meanwhile, will be given a tour of the personal quarters of the White House. While Mr Obama holds talks with Mr Bush, First Lady Laura Bush will give Michelle Obama a tour of the personal quarters of the White House.
Both men have taken care to speak respectfully of each other ahead of the talks - arranged, analysts say, with unusual haste because the US is at war and because the transition is taking place in the midst of an economic crisis.
Mr Obama said that he was looking forward to the meeting "to begin the process of a smooth, effective transition".Mr Obama said that he was looking forward to the meeting "to begin the process of a smooth, effective transition".
"I thank him [Mr Bush] for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship that will be required to meet the many challenges we face as a nation," he said in a statement."I thank him [Mr Bush] for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship that will be required to meet the many challenges we face as a nation," he said in a statement.
There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action John PodestaBarack Obama's transition chiefThere's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action John PodestaBarack Obama's transition chief
Mr Bush, meanwhile, has offered his "complete co-operation" to the president-elect during the transition period.Mr Bush, meanwhile, has offered his "complete co-operation" to the president-elect during the transition period.
The meeting has been arranged with unusual haste - analysts say this is in part because the US is at war, and also because the transition is taking place in the midst of an economic crisis. However, reports from Washington suggest Mr Obama's transition team has been working hard to identify issues where executive decisions made by Mr Bush could quickly be repealed.
Mr Obama has said that dealing with the economy is his top priority, and that he will move with "deliberate haste" to choose his cabinet.
Speaking on Friday in his first news conference as president-elect, Mr Obama said he would seek a constructive approach to the talks with Mr Bush.
However, reports from Washington suggest his transition team has been working hard to identify issues where executive decisions made by Mr Bush could quickly be repealed.
Stem cell moveStem cell move
The Washington Post newspaper reported that transition officials had compiled a list of some 200 executive orders to be considered.The Washington Post newspaper reported that transition officials had compiled a list of some 200 executive orders to be considered.
Mr Podesta said executive orders on stem cell research or drilling in Utah could easily be repealed as no congressional action was needed.Mr Podesta said executive orders on stem cell research or drilling in Utah could easily be repealed as no congressional action was needed.
BUSH DECISIONS UNDER FIRE Limited federal funding for medical research using human embryo stem cellsAid groups receiving US aid barred from counselling women about abortion availabilityCalifornia barred from imposing minimum standards of vehicle fuel efficiencyUtah land being opened up for oil and gas drillingBUSH DECISIONS UNDER FIRE Limited federal funding for medical research using human embryo stem cellsAid groups receiving US aid barred from counselling women about abortion availabilityCalifornia barred from imposing minimum standards of vehicle fuel efficiencyUtah land being opened up for oil and gas drilling
The Washington Post said other orders affecting environmental legislation and abortion issues were also under consideration.The Washington Post said other orders affecting environmental legislation and abortion issues were also under consideration.
"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Mr Podesta said."There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Mr Podesta said.
Potential plans for a last-minute rush of executive decisions by the White House were also being watched carefully, he added.Potential plans for a last-minute rush of executive decisions by the White House were also being watched carefully, he added.
The current administration has proposed a number of regulation changes they hope can be approved before Mr Obama's team moves into the White House. Reports from Washington, meanwhile, suggest that Mr Obama's advisors are putting together a plan to release a group of detainees from the much-criticised Guanatanamo Bay detention centre and to transfer most of the rest to the American prison and courts system.
Critics say many of the proposals would weaken environmental and consumer protection as well as reduce controls on drilling and mining companies. A third group who cannot be tried in public because of national security concerns could, reports the BBC's Justin Webb, be brought before a new court designed specifically for the purpose of dealing with them.