Bush and Brown Hold Talks

The US President George Bush and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will meet to discuss pressing issues in Downing street today.

The world leaders are set to address both the Middle East and rising oil and food prices with a press conference due to be held at 10:30am before the two travel to Stormont, Belfast, for talks with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy, Martin McGuinness.

The UK trip is part of Mr Bush's farewell tour before he stands down from office in six months.

Mr Bush met with former PM Tony Blair, who is now a Middle East envoy prior to the meeting with Mr Brown.

Sky News has reported that Mr Bush said the US invasion on Iraq was "the right thing to do" despite the massacre of innocent civilians.

"When anybody dies in a war, of course it weighs on my conscience," he said.

He added that "the world is better off" without Saddam Hussein and that "war is brutal" but he believes "we're now on the way to peace".

When questioned about his popularity, Mr Bush said that "popularity is fleeting" and that when he ends his presidency he wants to be know as a man who "did not compromise his core principles".

The President's arrival in London was marred by up to 2,500 protestors who gathered in Parliament Square. A number of scuffles ensued as police attempted to prevent a march to Downing Street.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne called on the government to lift the ban on the march.

"Stop the War Coalition have organised dozens of peaceful marches past Downing Street. This country has a long tradition of peaceful protest and I would be shocked if our civil liberties were curtailed at the request of a foreign government," he said.

The CND and the British Muslim Initiative also helped organise the rally.

Police say that at least 10 officers received minor injuries and 25 people were arrested, three of whom were charged.

It is reported that police will begin a "post-event" investigation into the anti-war protests.

Mr Bush and his wife Laura enjoyed a tea meeting with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on Sunday.

President Bush's later meeting with Northern Ireland's leaders will then mark an end to the European tour on his second and final term in the Oval Office.

(DS)