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Obama begins talks at White House Obama meets Bush at White House
(30 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 is at the White House for his first meeting with current President George W Bush since his election victory last week.
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. The incoming and outgoing presidents shook hands and then made their way to the Oval Office - Mr Obama's first visit to the famous seat of power.
The two are expected to discuss the war in Iraq and the financial crisis.The two are expected to discuss the war in Iraq and the financial crisis.
They will also discuss how to effect a smooth transition until Mr Obama takes office on 20 January.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. Mr Obama has already indicated he could reverse controversial Bush administration 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. Reports from the US suggest his team is set to tackle the issue of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, on Cuba.
Mr Obama also looks set to tackle US policy on the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, reports from the US say. Mr Obama's transition chief, John Podesta, has also said that executive orders from the Bush administration on issues such as stem cell research and oil drilling are at odds with the president-elect's views.
'Bipartisanship' Unusual haste
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.
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. As Mr Obama held talks with Mr Bush, First Lady Laura Bush was to give Mrs 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. Both men have taken care to speak respectfully about 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. There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action John PodestaBarack Obama's transition chief
Mr Obama said that he was looking forward to the meeting "to begin the process of a smooth, effective transition". Earlier, 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 ahead of the meeting.
There'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.
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.
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. Reports from Washington suggest Mr Obama's transition team has been working hard to identify issues where early changes could be made.
Mr Podesta said executive orders on stem cell research or drilling in Utah could easily be repealed as no congressional action was needed. Mr Obama's advisers are said to be 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.
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 drilling 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.
The Washington Post newspaper, meanwhile, reported that transition officials had compiled a list of some 200 executive orders to be considered. 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 drilling
Mr Podesta has said executive orders on stem cell research or oil drilling in Utah can easily be repealed, as no congressional action is needed.
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.
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.
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.