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Bush pledges immigration reforms Anti-Bush protests in Mexico City
(about 6 hours later)
US President George W Bush has pledged to reform controversial immigration laws during a two-day visit to Mexico. Hundreds of demonstrators have rioted outside the US embassy in Mexico City, in the latest protest against President George W Bush's tour of Latin America.
Mr Bush made the announcement at the start of talks with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, on the final leg of his seven-day tour of Latin America. Protesters burned US flags and threw stones at police guarding the building.
The two leaders also are expected to tackle the issue of drug trafficking. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowds. Several people were injured, including a number of police officers.
The violence came hours after Mr Bush pledged to reform controversial immigration laws, during two-day talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
Mr Bush made the announcement on Tuesday at the start of talks with Mr Calderon. The two leaders are also expected to tackle the issue of drug trafficking.
There have been protests at each stage of Mr Bush's trip, and verbal attacks on him by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who is on his own tour of the region.There have been protests at each stage of Mr Bush's trip, and verbal attacks on him by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who is on his own tour of the region.
Hundreds of demonstrators again protested against Mr Bush on his arrival in Mexico, as they were kept back by steel fences and security forces. The US president has visited Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala. Mexico is the final stop on his seven-day tour of the region.
Mr Bush has already visited Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala. Angry crowds
Fence row The leaders' summit is being held in the eastern city of Merida. Correspondents say that without a president nearby, the rioters in Mexico City turned their anger against the US embassy.
Speaking in the Mexican city of Merida, he said: "My pledge to you and your government, but more important to the people of Mexico, is I'll work as hard as I possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform." Reports say hundreds of people were involved - most were protesting against the war in Iraq rather than President Bush's policies on Latin America.
There have been some small-scale protests in Merida.
Earlier, President Bush promised to work hard to achieve a more sensitive and "comprehensive" immigration policy involving Mexicans.
The US is planning to construct hundreds of kilometres of fencing along the border to try to prevent the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico - something Mr Calderon has strongly criticised.The US is planning to construct hundreds of kilometres of fencing along the border to try to prevent the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico - something Mr Calderon has strongly criticised.
Mr Calderon repeated his criticisms of the plans on Tuesday, saying that migration could not be stopped by building a fence.Mr Calderon repeated his criticisms of the plans on Tuesday, saying that migration could not be stopped by building a fence.
Drug trafficking is also high on the agenda.
Tackling Mexico's drug cartels has been Mr Calderon's priority since he won a close election last year.
Through federal troop deployments, the Mexican government has tried to clamp down in regions where the drug gangs rule with near impunity.
"We need the collaboration and the active participation of our neighbour," Mr Calderon said.
President Bush is unlikely to offer more concessions other than his already stated desire for a guest-worker programme for Mexicans living illegally in the US.President Bush is unlikely to offer more concessions other than his already stated desire for a guest-worker programme for Mexicans living illegally in the US.
It is another sign that this tour of Latin America has been notable more for its political and diplomatic importance than for tangible changes of policy, the BBC's Duncan Kennedy says in Mexico. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Merida says that after a week travelling through five countries Mr Bush's visit is being judged to be more of a symbolic success than one involving new policies or additional aid.
Mr Bush ends his five-nation tour on Wednesday. But with his agenda crowded by the events in the Middle East, the president will probably be satisfied with that, our correspondent says.
Rival tourRival tour
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has used a parallel tour to speak out against what he calls the interference of the "American empire". Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has used a parallel trip to speak out against what he calls the interference of the "American empire".
Mr Chavez' last stop was Haiti where he signed a deal granting the island 14,000 barrels of crude a day as a beneficiary of Venezuela's PetroCaribe initiative, which offers regional governments discounted oil supplies.Mr Chavez' last stop was Haiti where he signed a deal granting the island 14,000 barrels of crude a day as a beneficiary of Venezuela's PetroCaribe initiative, which offers regional governments discounted oil supplies.
In a joint press conference, Haitian President Rene Preval also said his country had signed a three-way deal with close allies Venezuela and Cuba on health care, energy and oil.In a joint press conference, Haitian President Rene Preval also said his country had signed a three-way deal with close allies Venezuela and Cuba on health care, energy and oil.
Mr Chavez began his tour in Argentina last week, where he was the main speaker at a huge anti-Bush rally, and has also visited Bolivia and Nicaragua and Jamaica.Mr Chavez began his tour in Argentina last week, where he was the main speaker at a huge anti-Bush rally, and has also visited Bolivia and Nicaragua and Jamaica.