Protests greet him, Bush says war on terror not yet over

US President George W. Bush, was greeted by a big anti-US protest on his arrival in Germany on Wednesday. He met German leaders today in a bid to prepare them before publicly exhorting European allies to support the war on terrorism. Bush, on the first stop of a week-long trip to Europe during which he will sign a major nuclear arms deal with Russia, called on German President Johannes Rau at Bellevue Palace followed by talks and a working lunch with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Under fire for a perceived tendency to go it alone, the US President is using a speech to the German Parliament in the Reichstag building to reassure allies that the US remains a friend in spite of major differences. Bush’s visit drew around 20,000 demonstrators near his hotel last night. Protests turned violent and officials said 44 people were injured and some 50 demonstrators detained. A peaceful demonstration turned violent when Left-wing militants threw stones, bottles and sticks at police. An American flag was set on fire and a shopping cart packed with flammable materials was burned. Police used water cannon to disperse the protesters and officers wearing helmets scuffled with demonstrators. More protests were in the offing and security remained high. Before leaving Washington, Bush voiced optimism ‘‘about our capacities to work together to solve problems. Even though we’ve had some successes, there’s still danger for countries which embrace freedom, countries such as ours, or Germany, France, Russia, or Italy.’’

The US under him is perceived by some in Europe to have a unilateralist bent — Washington has pulled out of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty and abandoned a pact setting up an international criminal court. European allies are also concerned about hefty US tariffs on steel imports, a perceived pro-Israeli West Asia policy, and a desire to attack Iraq. And they question Washington’s long-term commitment to the NATO alliance.

(Reuters)