Three bomb alerts in Belfast before Bush-Blair summit

BELFAST (AFP) Apr 07, 2003
Three bomb alerts were issued in Belfast on Monday, hours before the arrival of US President George W. Bush for a summit on Iraq with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, police said.

The first alert, at Belfast's international airport, where Bush's plane was to arrive at around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), was lifted after a search of the site.

Two other alerts, one at Belfast's domestic City Airport, the other on a main route between the international airport and the town, were still in force, with part of the highway blocked off and police carrying out inquiries.

A terminal at the City Airport was evacuated as a precaution.

In their third summit in just over three weeks, Bush and Blair were set to discuss the Iraq war and the future of the country after the expected fall of President Saddam Hussein, as well as the Middle East and Northern Ireland peace processes.

Thousands of anti-war protesters were expected to demonstrate at Hillsborough Castle, the site south of Belfast where the leaders of Britain and the United States were to meet.

SPACE.WIRE