US President George W. Bush flew into Britain today for a historic visit during which he and his top ally Mr Tony Blair hope to counter the growing groundswell of protest over the Iraq war.
The two men may have hoped the trip would mark their countries' victory side by side in Iraq, but increasing attacks on their occupying forces have dulled any sense of celebration and massive street protests await Mr Bush in London.
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US President George W. Bush laughs with Britain's Prince Charlesas he arrives at London's Heathrow Airport
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Organisers expect up to 100,000 anti-war demonstrators to cap their protest by toppling a giant statue of Mr Bush in central London's Trafalgar Square - an echo of the toppling of a statue of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in April.
If Prime Minister Blair is a reluctant host, though, he has shown no sign of it, robustly defending his decision to defy other big European powers and support the war in Iraq. "The prime minister believes this is precisely the right time for President Bush to be visiting this country," Mr Blair's spokesman said.
Mr Bush is equally defiant. A spokesman travelling with him on the presidential jet to London said Mr Bush would tell the British people that there are times when the use of military force is necessary.
"History has shown that there are times when countries must use force to defend the peace and to defend values and he will say that we have to recognise that times will come when the use of force is necessary. It is never the first choice," the official told reporters.
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Ms Clare Anderson, from Highgate in north London, joins anti-Bushprotestors marching through central London tonight
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London's maverick Mayor Ken Livingstone has called Mr Bush "the most dangerous man on the planet" and said that, even if asked, he would refuse to shake hands with the American leader.
Mr Bush was to be met at London's Heathrow Airport by Prince Charles and will stay at Buckingham Palace as the guest of Queen Elizabeth. But his guardians, fearing a terror attack as well as angry crowds, have ruled out such traditional events as a royal horse-drawn carriage ride.
British police are mounting a £5 million security clampdown, with weekend suicide bombings in Istanbul adding to the tensions. Police in London will work 14,000 shifts during the course of his stay - with more than 5,000 officers on duty at any one time.
Despite much talk in the media about Mr Bush's unpopularity, a poll in the Guardiannewspaper showed more British voters welcome the visit than reject it, and that 62 per cent think America "a force for good, not evil, in the world".
Mr Bush and Mr Blair are expected to hammer out details of plans discussed last week for speeding up the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq to an interim government.
Mr Blair will also hope to clinch a deal on British detainees at the US camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There are now 10 Britons among more than 600 prisoners there, and London has complained about plans to try some under military tribunals.
Mr Bush plans to meet relatives of British soldiers who died in Iraq and has put special emphasis on those meetings in interviews ahead of the visit.