Bush, Queen hail strong ties
20/11/2003 08:13  - (SA)  

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London - US President George Bush and Queen Elizabeth II congratulated each other on the long-standing ties that link their countries at a lavish state dinner on Wednesday at Buckingham Palace.

"Our troops have served together in Afghanistan and Iraq to lead the fight for freedom and democracy," said the queen as she toasted the president who sat next to her at the top table in the Palace Ballroom.

"Like all special friends, we can talk frankly and disagree from time to time," she added.

Among the 170 invited guests were politicians, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, and diplomats, including the ambassadors of Kuwait and Italy, allies with Britain and the United States in the Iraq war.

Bush, who has given up alcohol and merely raised his glass of champagne but did not drink from it during the toast, joked that relations between Britain and the United States "did not start out too well."

"But even in America's founding our nations shared a basic belief in human liberty. And in time our shared commitment to freedom became the basis of a great Atlantic alliance that defeated tyranny in Europe and saved the liberty of the world."

'Alternative royal process'

In another part of London, some 350 opponents of Bush's visit and the Iraq war gathered for their own "alternative royal process" - complete with a pink "love tank" - warming up for a big street march on Thursday when Bush holds talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Organisers expect 100 000 to turn out for Thursday's march amid unprecedented security in the British capital to guard the president and thwart a feared terrorist incident.

Several hundred anti-Bush protesters converged on the front gates of Buckingham Palace, where the president is staying as the guest of the queen until Friday, shouting slogans and waving flags and banners.

Demonstrators burned the US flag but there were no serious incidents or violence, although police arrested 31 for offences as diverse as criminal damage, drunkenness and theft.

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