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Bush in Italy for talks with Pope | Bush in Italy for talks with Pope |
(30 minutes later) | |
US President George W Bush has arrived at the Vatican for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. | US President George W Bush has arrived at the Vatican for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. |
The Pope is expected to raise the war in Iraq and the plight of Christians there, as well as the issues of abortion and gay marriage. | The Pope 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 Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. | Mr Bush will also hold discussions with Italian 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 | Security concerns |
The Pope has criticised the US-led invasion. In his Easter address, he said: "Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civilian population flees." | The Pope has criticised the US-led invasion. In his Easter address, he said: "Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civilian population flees." |
It's a disgrace the Italian government elected by the votes of pacifists should invite him to this country Elio Luppoliprotester class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6736823.stm">On tour with Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6733713.stm">Profile: Sant'Egidio | |
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. |
Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton told the BBC that Mr Bush would give the Pope a detailed explanation of US policy on Iraq. | Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton told the BBC that Mr Bush would give the Pope a detailed explanation of US policy on Iraq. |
"The president, over the course of the last four-and-a-half years, has made a number of efforts with the Vatican to explain America's position because of the importance he attaches to the moral force that any Pope has," Mr Bolton said. | "The president, over the course of the last four-and-a-half years, has made a number of efforts with the Vatican to explain America's position because of the importance he attaches to the moral force that any Pope has," Mr Bolton said. |
"But I do think it is a question of explaining the policy and not modifying it," he added. | "But I do think it is a question of explaining the policy and not modifying it," he added. |
Correspondents say the Pope and Mr Bush hold similar views on other topics they are expected to raise, such as abortion and gay marriage. | Correspondents say the Pope and Mr Bush hold similar views on other topics they are expected to raise, such as abortion and gay marriage. |
Mr Bush was also due to meet leaders of the Sant'Egidio Roman Catholic community - which is involved in charity work in Africa. | 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. | 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. |
Arriving from Milan to take part in a protest, Elio Luppoli, told Reuters news agency: "It's a disgrace the Italian government elected by the votes of pacifists should invite him to this country." | |
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 arrived, the first trial over the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" programme opened in Milan. | Hours before Mr Bush arrived, 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. |
Also on Friday, G8 leaders said they had made clear progress on fighting poverty in Africa and global warming and pledged $60bn in aid to fight Aids, malaria and TB on the final day of their summit. | Also on Friday, G8 leaders said they had made clear progress on fighting poverty in Africa and global warming and pledged $60bn in aid to fight Aids, malaria and TB on the final day of their summit. |