ITALY: President Bush arrived in Rome late yesterday on the final leg of a four-nation European tour that culminates today with a NATO-Russia summit bringing together 20 world leaders.
Mr Bush is also scheduled to meet Pope John Paul before heading home to Washington at the end of a week-long trip that has also taken him to Germany, Russia and France.
Mr Bush had a private dinner with Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi, one of his most ardent European supporters, in an ornate Renaissance villa on the outskirts of Rome.
The focal point of his 24-hour visit will be the NATO meeting in an airbase beside the Mediterranean, where heads of state and government will set the seal on a new era of co-operation with the alliance's former Cold War foe, Russia. The revised NATO-Russia council will establish policy on a range of issues, including counter-terrorism, regional emergencies, arms control and sea rescue operations.
Italy has laid down an imposing security shield for the meeting, fearing that Muslim militants may try to target the first gathering of NATO leaders since the September 11th suicide attacks on the US.
All Italian airlines and some foreign carriers are suspending their Rome operations during the summit to forestall any possible hijackings. Roads around the US ambassador's residence in central Rome were sealed off on Monday before Bush's arrival, causing traffic chaos, and the media said he would travel around in a 50-car convoy, complete with machinegun-toting guards. This afternoon President Bush will meet Pope John Paul, whose frail health is causing concern within the Vatican.