President Bush to discuss Iraq problems with EU officials

President Bush is in Ireland for discussions with European Union officials. He is seeking support for the interim Iraqi government from EU. And he is to be rather unwelcome in Ireland, where thousands of left-wing activists marched through the center of the Irish capital to protest the arrival of President Bush.

Mr Bush and his wife Laura waved from the steps of Air Force One, but the public and anti-war protesters were kept well away from the remote runway at Shannon Airport in County Clare, reports telegraph.co.uk.

Snipers manned the roofs of buildings overlooking the landing area as Mr Bush made his way from the aircraft into his armoured presidential car.

The president then began the brief journey to the nearby luxurious Dromoland Castle where he will attend an EU-US summit. According to voanews.com, Ireland is the first stop on a trip that will also take President Bush to the NATO summit next week in Turkey.

There will be full agendas for both meetings. But the focus for Mr. Bush is Iraq and the upcoming transfer of power to the Iraqi interim government.