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Bush in Italy for talks with Pope | Bush in Italy for talks with Pope |
(10 minutes later) | |
US President George W Bush has arrived in Rome, for talks with Italian leaders and his first meeting with the Pope. | US President George W Bush has arrived in Rome, for talks with Italian leaders and his first meeting with the Pope. |
Benedict XVI is expected to raise the war in Iraq and the plight of Christians there, as well as the issues of abortion and gay marriage. | Benedict XVI is expected to raise the war in Iraq and the plight of Christians there, as well as the issues of abortion and gay marriage. |
Mr Bush will also hold discussions with Prime Minister Romano Prodi. | Mr Bush will also hold discussions with Prime Minister Romano Prodi. |
The visit is the latest leg of the US president's European tour. On Friday he visited Poland after three days at the summit of G8 leaders in Germany. | The visit is the latest leg of the US president's European tour. On Friday he visited Poland after three days at the summit of G8 leaders in Germany. |
During Mr Bush's one-day visit to Rome, thousands of people are expected to demonstrate against the Iraq war. | During Mr Bush's one-day visit to Rome, thousands of people are expected to demonstrate against the Iraq war. |
Security concerns | |
The Pope has been a long-time critic of the US-led invasion. | The Pope has been a long-time critic of the US-led invasion. |
Two large ant-war protests are planned for Mr Bush's visit | Two large ant-war protests are planned for Mr Bush's visit |
In his Easter address, he said: "Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civilian population flees." | |
The pontiff is expected to raise the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians who have been forced into exile during the conflict. | The pontiff is expected to raise the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians who have been forced into exile during the conflict. |
But correspondents say the Pope and Mr Bush hold similar views on such topics as abortion and gay marriage. | |
Mr Bush has said he hopes to discuss changes in China and the future of post-Castro Cuba, but intends mainly to listen to the pontiff. | |
Mr Bush was also due to meet leaders of the Sant'Egidio Roman Catholic community - which is involved in charity work in Africa. | |
The venue of the meeting was moved from the Trastevere neighbourhood in Rome to the US embassy for security reasons, Italian news agency Ansa reported. | |
CIA trial | CIA trial |
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is travelling with Mr Bush, says that while in Rome the president will face questions over US flights carrying terror suspects overseas. | The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is travelling with Mr Bush, says that while in Rome the president will face questions over US flights carrying terror suspects overseas. |
Hours before Mr Bush arrival, the first trial over the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" programme opened in Milan. | Hours before Mr Bush arrival, the first trial over the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" programme opened in Milan. |
Twenty-six Americans and six Italians are accused of kidnapping a Muslim cleric from Italy and sending him to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured. The CIA agents and US military personnel will be tried in absentia. | Twenty-six Americans and six Italians are accused of kidnapping a Muslim cleric from Italy and sending him to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured. The CIA agents and US military personnel will be tried in absentia. |
However Mr Prodi has said the case will not be on the agenda when he meets Mr Bush. | However Mr Prodi has said the case will not be on the agenda when he meets Mr Bush. |
On Friday, Mr Bush met Polish President Lech Kaczynski at his retreat on the Baltic Sea coast, where they discussed his plans for a European anti-missile defence system. | On Friday, Mr Bush met Polish President Lech Kaczynski at his retreat on the Baltic Sea coast, where they discussed his plans for a European anti-missile defence system. |
Mr Kaczynski said Poland supported the system and reiterated Mr Bush's statement that the missile shield would not threaten Russia. | Mr Kaczynski said Poland supported the system and reiterated Mr Bush's statement that the missile shield would not threaten Russia. |
Earlier on Friday, a stomach upset forced Mr Bush to skip some meetings on the final day of the G8 summit. | Earlier on Friday, a stomach upset forced Mr Bush to skip some meetings on the final day of the G8 summit. |
The leaders said they had made clear progress on fighting poverty in Africa and global warming. | The leaders said they had made clear progress on fighting poverty in Africa and global warming. |