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| President Obama: Now is time for US and West to lead | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| President Obama has told British politicians that, despite the rise of new global superpowers, the time for US and European leadership "is now". | |
| In a speech in Parliament, he said the US and its allies in Europe would remain "indispensable" this century. | |
| He is the first US President to address MPs and peers in Westminster Hall, on the second day of his UK state visit. | |
| He praised relations between the US and UK as "one of the oldest and strongest alliances the world has ever known". | |
| Mr Obama got a standing ovation as he began his speech - which covered a range of issues including foreign policy, economic development and international security. | |
| As he began, Mr Obama acknowledged that the relationship between the UK and US was forever being "overanalysed" but added: "There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom." | As he began, Mr Obama acknowledged that the relationship between the UK and US was forever being "overanalysed" but added: "There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom." |
| 'New chapter' | |
| President Obama also told politicians gathered at Westminster Hall - who included in their ranks the former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - that the two countries had "arrived at a pivotal moment once more" following global recession and years of conflict. | |
| He said with the winding down of operations in Iraq, progress in Afghanistan and having dealt "al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader Osama Bin Laden" it was time to enter a "new chapter in our shared history" with new challenges - like the revolutions in the Middle East and Africa, climate change terrorist networks,. | |
| But he rejected arguments that the rise of superpowers like China and India meant the end for American and European influence in the world. | |
| "Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future, and the time for our leadership has passed. That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now," he said. | |
| "It was the United States, the United Kingdom, and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which new nations could emerge and individuals could thrive. | |
| "And even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership, our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just." | |
| Libya questions | |
| Questions about the international community's strategy in Libya featured heavily during an earlier press conference on the second day of President Obama's state visit to the UK. | Questions about the international community's strategy in Libya featured heavily during an earlier press conference on the second day of President Obama's state visit to the UK. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron said there was no future for the country - which has seen two months of intense fighting between pro and anti-government forces - with Col Gaddafi in power, and he should step down. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron said there was no future for the country - which has seen two months of intense fighting between pro and anti-government forces - with Col Gaddafi in power, and he should step down. |
| "The President and I agree we should be turning up the heat in Libya," he said, adding that "all options" for intensifying the pressure on the regime were being considered. | "The President and I agree we should be turning up the heat in Libya," he said, adding that "all options" for intensifying the pressure on the regime were being considered. |
| Mr Obama said the international community had made "enormous progress" in Libya, saving civilian lives under the terms of its UN mandate, and the US was "strongly committed to seeing the job through". | Mr Obama said the international community had made "enormous progress" in Libya, saving civilian lives under the terms of its UN mandate, and the US was "strongly committed to seeing the job through". |
| "Gaddafi and his regime need to understand there will be no let-up in the pressure we are applying," he said. | "Gaddafi and his regime need to understand there will be no let-up in the pressure we are applying," he said. |
| But he warned against setting any timetable for action and cautioned against the prospect of any decisive change in the military situation on the ground. | But he warned against setting any timetable for action and cautioned against the prospect of any decisive change in the military situation on the ground. |
| "I believe that we have built enough momentum that, as long as we sustain the course we are on, he (Gaddafi) will step down. Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we are able to wear down the regime forces." | "I believe that we have built enough momentum that, as long as we sustain the course we are on, he (Gaddafi) will step down. Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we are able to wear down the regime forces." |
| The situation in Libya was one of a number of issues discussed during 90 minutes of talks on Wednesday, including developments across the Middle East, in Syria and Yemen, the fight against terrorism and the global economy. | The situation in Libya was one of a number of issues discussed during 90 minutes of talks on Wednesday, including developments across the Middle East, in Syria and Yemen, the fight against terrorism and the global economy. |
| On a personal note, Mr Cameron said he had come to know the president well over the past year and had come to "value his leadership and courage". | On a personal note, Mr Cameron said he had come to know the president well over the past year and had come to "value his leadership and courage". |
| He described UK-US relations as "a living, working partnership" which were "essential to our security and to our prosperity". | He described UK-US relations as "a living, working partnership" which were "essential to our security and to our prosperity". |
| But he refused to be drawn on comparisons between the two men's relationship and that between President George W Bush and Tony Blair, saying each personal relationship between world leaders was different. | But he refused to be drawn on comparisons between the two men's relationship and that between President George W Bush and Tony Blair, saying each personal relationship between world leaders was different. |
Winfield House | Winfield House |
| The presidential couple arrived 12 hours earlier than planned and spent their first night in the UK at the home of the US ambassador, Winfield House, where they met the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. | The presidential couple arrived 12 hours earlier than planned and spent their first night in the UK at the home of the US ambassador, Winfield House, where they met the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. |
Downing Street | Downing Street |
| President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met the Prime Minister and his wife, Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street, where they later hosted a barbecue for British and American military families. | President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met the Prime Minister and his wife, Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street, where they later hosted a barbecue for British and American military families. |
<-- Buckingham Palace | <-- Buckingham Palace |
| The President and First Lady briefly met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before a ceremonial welcome in the Buckingham Palace gardens, where the president reviewed the guard of honour with the Duke of Edinburgh. | The President and First Lady briefly met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before a ceremonial welcome in the Buckingham Palace gardens, where the president reviewed the guard of honour with the Duke of Edinburgh. |
--> Westminster Abbey | --> Westminster Abbey |
| The public got their first glimpse of the Obamas when they visited Westminster Abbey, where the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. | The public got their first glimpse of the Obamas when they visited Westminster Abbey, where the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. |
Globe Academy | Globe Academy |
| President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron made a suprise visit to the Globe Academy in Lambeth, south London, where they teamed up for a game of table tennis against schoolboys. | President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron made a suprise visit to the Globe Academy in Lambeth, south London, where they teamed up for a game of table tennis against schoolboys. |
| Are you in the UK or the US? What do you think of the "special relationship"? What can these talks achieve? You can send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the UK or the US? What do you think of the "special relationship"? What can these talks achieve? You can send us your comments using the form below. |